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Agricultural Plane Strikes Guy Wire at 500 Feet, Lands Safely (N602GB)

Plainview, TX, US

On October 25, 2002, an Air Tractor AT-602 (registration N602GB) was involved in an aviation accident near Plainview, TX. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the wires. Contributing factors were the low ceilings and the prevailing haze. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 2026-07-04Data APIEditorial standards

An agricultural airplane hit a guy wire from a 756-foot radio tower at 500 feet while en route to a field. The pilot regained control and landed uneventfully in a wheat field. The tower was not on the sectional chart but listed in the Chart Bulletin.

Incident Overview

A pilot flying an agricultural airplane reported that after completing a spraying operation, he climbed a few hundred feet to program the onboard GPS before heading to the next field. During the flight, the leading edge of the right wing struck a guy wire attached to a recently erected 756-foot radio station transmitter tower. The collision occurred at the 500-foot level of the tower.

Aircraft Control and Landing

Impact with the guy wire caused a momentary loss of control, and the airplane abruptly turned about 90 degrees. The pilot managed to maintain control and performed an uneventful precautionary landing in an open wheat field approximately one mile southeast of the tower.

Charting and Weather

The tower was not depicted on the Sectional Chart; however, it was listed in the current Aeronautical Chart Bulletin in the Airport/Facility Directory. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were reported as 1,100 feet overcast with a visibility of 4 miles in haze.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 25 Oct 2002 Air Tractor AT-602 accident near Plainview, TX?

An agricultural airplane hit a guy wire from a 756-foot radio tower at 500 feet while en route to a field. The pilot regained control and landed uneventfully in a wheat field. The tower was not on the sectional chart but listed in the Chart Bulletin.

Were there any fatalities in the 25 Oct 2002 Air Tractor AT-602 accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 25 Oct 2002 involved an Air Tractor AT-602, registration N602GB, at Plainview, TX.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the wires. Contributing factors were the low ceilings and the prevailing haze.

More accident analyses

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20021029X05402. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.