On August 12, 1982, an Air Tractor AT-301 (registration N1KL) operated by Kenneth Leach was involved in an aviation accident near Center, CO. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's decision to continue the flight operation below transmission lines and his subsequent reaction to avoid a pedestrian and an animal, which resulted in the aircraft striking a wire and crashing. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an agricultural spraying operation, the pilot pulled up to avoid a boy and a dog near transmission lines, causing the aircraft to strike a wire and crash.
What happened
The pilot was conducting the first swath run of his second load during an agricultural application mission. As he approached a set of overhead transmission lines, intending to fly beneath them, he observed a small boy and a dog emerging from a ditch located directly below the wires.
In an effort to avoid striking the child, the pilot immediately pulled up on the controls. This maneuver caused the aircraft to collide with one of the transmission lines. The impact resulted in a loss of control, leading to a subsequent crash of the aircraft.
Probable cause
The pilot's decision to continue the flight operation below transmission lines and his subsequent reaction to avoid a pedestrian and an animal, which resulted in the aircraft striking a wire and crashing.