Minot Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Minot, North Dakota 58701
Sunday, June 16, 2013 7:20 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During the aerial application flight, the pilot pulled the airplane up over trees and felt a small bump. The pilot stated that he believed that the airplane had struck branches. The airplane flew straight for a couple of seconds and then started rolling left. The pilot applied full right aileron and full right rudder, but the airplane continued to roll left. The airplane then struck the ground in a nose-low attitude. Examination of accident site and airplane wreckage revealed that the left wing had struck a tree. The examination did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he was well rested and that the flying shift was during his normal working hours.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during an aerial application flight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/16/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 720
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Minot
Event State NORTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 58701
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 482325N
Event Location Longitude 1012958W
Event Location Airport Minot
Event Location Nearest Airport ID MOT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 10
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1716
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 654 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID MOT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1716
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.87
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32380
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 2 2014 11:12PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8522S
NTSB Number CEN13LA353
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AIR TRACTOR INC
Aircraft Model AT-802A
Aircraft Series Identifier 14000
Aircraft Serial Number 802A-0161
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 2 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4458
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name PIONEER AGVIATION INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 600 7TH ST SE
Aircraft Owner City MINOT
Aircraft Owner State ND
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 58701-4759
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name PIONEER AGVIATION INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 600 7TH ST SE
Operator City MINOT
Operator State ND
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 58701-4759
Operator Code P8GG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MOT
Departure City Minot
Departure State ND
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code MOT
Destination City Minot
Destination State ND
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 2 2014 11:13PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --