NTSB Identification: CEN13LA424
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Friday, July 19, 2013 in Huntingburg, IN
Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802A, registration: N86BM
Injuries: 1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On July 19, 2013, about 1030 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-802A airplane, N86BM, impacted terrain after striking a pair of suspended power lines during low altitude maneuvering near the Huntingburg Airport (KHNB), Huntingburg, Indiana. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Milhon Air, Inc under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from KHNB at an unknown time.
The pilot was on his final application run and was flying on an easterly heading. According to witnesses, the airplane struck two suspended power lines and subsequently impacted terrain about 1 ½ miles east of KHNB. After the airplane impacted terrain, it continued towards and came to rest in a group of trees located next to a lake.
Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the scene and retained the wreckage for further examination. The inspectors noted that the power lines ran north-south across the flight path on the east side of the field.
The automated weather reporting station located at KHNB reported at 1035: wind from 230 degrees at 11 knots, 10 miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 82 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 72 degrees F, and a barometric pressure of 30.07 inches of mercury.
HUNTINGBURG, Ind. — The pilot of a crop dusting plane, which crashed Friday near the Huntingburg Conservation Club lake, 8727 W. 100 West, has been identified as 53-year-old John A. Layne of Danville, according to Indiana State Police.
Layne remained at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Evansville on Monday, where he was listed in fair condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
The conservation club has remained closed since the accident.
The wreckage of the single-engine Air Tractor AT-802A registered to Martinsville-based Milhon Air, Inc. was removed Saturday, according to club board member Leonard Gehlhausen Jr. Soil at the site containing spilled fuel and pesticide was to have been removed as well, but the work was delayed.
Members of the private club southeast of Huntingburg are concerned that weekend rains may have caused contaminants to run into the lake.
As a safety precaution, the club is closed until the results of tests on the water are learned, possibly Friday, Gehlhausen said.
The club does not have an estimate of the damage caused to the property, Gehlhausen said. The plane took out several small trees and left a gash in the earth.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the accident.
Source: http://www.courierpress.com
