Thursday, July 25, 2019

Low Altitude Operation/Event: Air Tractor AT-502, N1509E; accident occurred July 24, 2019 in Welsh, Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana

View of damage to both wings and fuselage.
Federal Aviation Administration 


Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


https://registry.faa.gov/N1509E


Location: Welsh, LA
Accident Number: GAA19CA452
Date & Time: 07/24/2019, 0820 CDT
Registration: N1509E
Aircraft: Air Tractor AT 502
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Low altitude operation/event
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural 

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during an aerial application low pass, he descended below the height of the wires adjacent to the field. Shortly after, he saw a telephone pole and maneuvered the airplane to avoid the pole, but the airplane's left wing struck the top of the pole. The airplane rolled left through a tree and impacted the ground inverted.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the both wings and fuselage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Commercial
Age: 61, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 12/21/2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 02/16/2018
Flight Time:   (Estimated) 5869 hours (Total, all aircraft), 1849 hours (Total, this make and model), 5352 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 219 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 41 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Air Tractor
Registration: N1509E
Model/Series: AT 502 Undesignated
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1991
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Restricted
Serial Number: 502-0145
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/22/2019, 100 Hour
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 8000 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Turbo Prop
Airframe Total Time: 8773.6 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Pratt & Whitney
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: PT6A-34AG
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 750 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural Aircraft (137) 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KCWF, 17 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 19 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1345 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 271°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 20°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.06 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 23°C / 18°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Welsh, LA (LS18)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Welsh, LA (LS18)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0800 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 30.202222, -92.775000 (est)




Around 8:20 am on July 24th a 911 call came in that a plane crashed.  

Units responded to LA 382 and David road, South of Roanoke, Louisiana.

The plane, a crop duster had struck a power pole, lost a wing and then struck a tree before coming to a stop in a field. 

The pilot walked away from the crash and was transported to the hospital by private vehicle with minor scrapes.  

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating.  

Welsh Fire district 3 responded to assist.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://kadn.com

2 comments:

  1. That's a lot of damage according to the pictures. "incident"? What constitutes an "accident"?

    ReplyDelete
  2. This guy should start playing the Powerball lottery. How lucky to be able to walk away from that kind of damage?

    ReplyDelete