On March 2, 2005, an Air Tractor AT-402 (registration N1518Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Dumas, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during maneuvering while conducting aerial application operations. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An agricultural airplane struck power lines while maneuvering during an aerial application flight, resulting in significant damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder before a forced landing.
What happened
The pilot was conducting an aerial application flight when the aircraft collided with overhead power lines. The impact occurred while the pilot was maneuvering the agricultural airplane. One of the power lines severed a large portion of the vertical stabilizer and the rudder.
Despite sustaining significant structural damage, the pilot retained minimal control over the aircraft. Utilizing their experience, the 5,090-hour pilot managed to execute a forced landing in an adjacent open field.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during maneuvering while conducting aerial application operations.