On September 27, 2000, an Air Tractor AT-602 (registration N5111A) was involved in an aviation accident near Columbia River, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Clearance from a transmission power line was not maintained. The power line was a factor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During a spray run, an aerial application aircraft hit a power line, lost engine power, and made a forced landing, colliding with small trees before stopping.
Incident Overview
During an aerial application spray run, the aircraft collided with a power line located on the northeast corner of the field. Following the collision, the engine lost power, prompting the pilot to initiate a forced landing in a nearby field.
Forced Landing and Subsequent Collision
During the landing roll, the aircraft collided with several small trees before coming to rest. The pilot stated that he was aware of the location of the power lines before he began the spray run.
Pilot Statement
The pilot reported that he had knowledge of the power lines' position prior to commencing the spray run. No further details regarding the pilot's actions or decisions were provided.