On July 26, 2008, an Air Tractor AT-401 operated by Michael J. Bartholomew was involved in an aviation accident near Lake View, IA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot failed to maintain sufficient altitude and clearance from the power lines while performing an aerial application maneuver. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
An aerial application maneuver resulted in an Air Tractor AT-401 striking power lines and coming to rest upside down.
What happened
On July 26, 2008, an Air Tractor AT-401, registration N9193F, was performing aerial application maneuvers in Lake View, Iowa. During the maneuver, the pilot struck the top wire of a set of power lines. The impact caused the aircraft to come to rest in an inverted position within the field being sprayed.
The weather conditions at the time were Visual Meteorological Conditions (VMC) with a visibility of 10 statute miles and calm winds. There was one minor injury reported, and there were no fatalities.
Probable cause
The pilot failed to maintain sufficient altitude and clearance from the power lines while performing an aerial application maneuver.
Contributing factors
Causes
Altitude — Not attained/maintained
Other contributing factors
Wire
Related events
Same aircraft family
13 Sep 2026 — AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602 (Ford Flying Service INC)
29 Jul 2026 — AIR TRACTOR AT502
13 Jul 2026 — AIR TRACTOR AT802 (Heinen Brothers)
7 Jul 2026 — AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B (Vector Disease Control International)
29 Jun 2026 — AIR TRACTOR AT502
16 Jun 2026 — AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B (Kurtz Aviation LLC)
3 Jun 2026 — AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602 (Tri-Air Farms LLC)
30 May 2026 — AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602 (Basin Aviation INC)
5 May 2026 — AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602 (Sug-Air LLC)
1 May 2026 — AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602 (Eastern Aviation LLC)
16 Mar 2026 — AIR TRACTOR AT502B
14 Mar 2026 — AIR TRACTOR AT401
Frequently asked questions
What happened in the 26 Jul 2008 Air Tractor AT-401 accident near Lake View, IA?
An aerial application maneuver resulted in an Air Tractor AT-401 striking power lines and coming to rest upside down.
Were there any fatalities in the 26 Jul 2008 Air Tractor AT-401 accident?
No fatalities were recorded in this accident.
What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?
The accident on 26 Jul 2008 involved an Air Tractor AT-401, operated by Michael J. Bartholomew, at Lake View, IA.
What was the probable cause of the accident?
The pilot failed to maintain sufficient altitude and clearance from the power lines while performing an aerial application maneuver.
A SkyWalk Join't 3 paraglider crashed into the ground near Las Vizcachas, Chile, on September 1, 2024. The pilot and passenger sustained serious spinal…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2024-09-01DGAC Chile
A Cessna 172N struck electrical cables while on final approach to land at Aucó Aerodrome in Chile. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained damage…
A Bombardier DHC-8-402 suffered a tail strike during landing at Puerto Williams on September 9, 2024. All 76 occupants were unharmed, but the aircraft…
A MYD JS-MD 3 glider veered off the runway and struck a wall at Vitacura Aerodrome on January 6, 2025. The pilot was uninjured, but the aircraft sustained…
A recreational paraglider flight in Puchuncaví, Chile, ended with the pilot sustaining serious injuries after a rapid descent and impact with a hillside on…
PARAPENTE (ULTRALIVIANO NO MOTORIZADO)·2025-03-29DGAC Chile
A Tecnam P2006T landed on its belly at an aerodrome in Poland after the crew failed to confirm landing gear deployment. The incident resulted in no injuries…