On March 20, 1997, an Air Tractor AT-502 (registration N7319Y) was involved in an aviation accident near Paragould, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees resulting in jammed control surfaces. A factor was that aircraft control was not possible by the pilot. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A pilot reported hard right pressure and a sloppy stick before the aircraft impacted ground with right wing low. Witnesses observed a loud pop, corkscrewing, bent wing, and hanging material under left wing.
Accident Details
The pilot reported entering the field and experiencing a hard right-hand pressure that he could not correct. Subsequently, the pilot noted that the stick suddenly became sloppy. The airplane flew over a row of trees estimated to be 30 to 40 feet high and then impacted the ground with the right wing low.
Witness Accounts
A witness located in the first field reported hearing a loud pop and observed the airplane flying southeast across the field. According to the witness, the airplane was corkscrewing continuously, making about three or four rotations before it went over the tree line and out of sight. The witness further stated that one wing was bent 90 degrees at the midpoint. Another witness reported seeing the airplane coming over the trees with something hanging down under the left wing at approximately the midpoint, resembling a support brace. This witness also noted that at the same midpoint area of the left wing, the leading edge appeared abnormal or something was flapping.
Postcrash Examination
Postcrash examination of the wreckage revealed that the left wing leading edge was crushed aft to the spar at the midpoint. Additionally, the left wing spray boom was dented and bent approximately 2.5 feet inboard from the outboard end.