Flight History
On January 2, 2009, at about 1200 central standard time, an Air Tractor AT-602 (registration N5013C) operated by Quinn Aviation, Inc., collided with trees and then the ground near Philadelphia, Mississippi. The airplane was on a positioning flight under 14 CFR Part 91 from Mac Crenshaw Memorial Airport (PRN) in Greenville, Alabama, to Cleveland Municipal Airport (RNV) in Cleveland, Mississippi. The flight departed PRN at about 1124. Instrument meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. There was no contact with any FAA air traffic control facility during the flight.
A pilot who departed PRN earlier and was en route to the same destination reported departing at approximately 1100. Records show text messages between the pilots. At 1144, the accident pilot texted that he was 235 statute miles from Cleveland, Mississippi; at 1147, he texted 200 miles. At 1154, the other pilot texted that he was going to Meridian, Mississippi. At 1155, the accident pilot texted his brother that he was on his way home and "dodging weather." At 1157, the other pilot asked about weather, and the accident pilot replied, "can't see." At 1201, the other pilot asked how far he was from Cleveland, but the accident pilot did not respond. The other pilot performed a precautionary landing in a field between Liberty and Moscow, Mississippi, due to adverse weather.
A search by the Civil Air Patrol and Mississippi law enforcement agencies began on January 2, 2009, but adverse weather limited sorties. The wreckage was located on January 5, 2009, at about 1654 by the landowner. The main wreckage rested at the end of an approximately 70-yard ground scar. The airplane was substantially damaged by impact and postcrash fire.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 48, held a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating issued February 18, 2000, and a second-class medical certificate with no limitations issued March 25, 2008. The operator reported his total flight time as estimated 7,500 hours, with 2,500 hours in the accident make and model.
Aircraft Information
The airplane, an Air Tractor AT-602 (serial number 602-0428), was manufactured in 1997. It was powered by a 1,050 shaft horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60AG engine and equipped with a constant-speed Hartzell propeller. The last inspection was a 100-hour inspection on November 3, 2008, at which time the airplane total time was 5,700.5 hours.
Meteorological Information
Surface observations from Key Field Airport (MEI) in Meridian, Mississippi, about 31 nautical miles from the crash site, showed the following conditions: at 1058, wind 170° at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, scattered clouds at 1,100 feet. At 1158, wind 190° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, overcast at 1,300 feet. At 1258, wind 170° at 3 knots, visibility 9 miles with light rain, overcast at 1,100 feet. At 1358, wind calm, visibility 9 miles, overcast at 1,100 feet.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The crash site was at 32° 49.765' N, 088° 57.196' W, approximately 133 nautical miles from the departure airport and 106 nautical miles from the intended fuel stop. The airplane crashed in a heavily wooded area with tall pines and hardwood saplings. Initial impact was with two pine trees. The left horizontal stabilizer and elevator separated near that point. Fiberglass, aluminum, and other debris were scattered along the energy path. The fuselage came to rest against a pine tree, with the nose down and tail elevated. The fuselage and left wing were consumed by fire; the right wing was demolished. The right horizontal stabilizer and vertical stabilizer remained attached to the empennage. All major components were present.
Examination of the airframe and engine was conducted by representatives of the manufacturers. The airframe was fragmented and burned, with wings and forward fuselage separated. The cockpit section was fragmented; instruments were consumed by fire. The airspeed indicator needle was captured at 208 mph. The pilot's seat rails were bowed forward, and the seat bottom frame was bent.
The engine displayed severe impact damage, including ruptured housings. The propeller shaft was fractured. The turbine section showed evidence of high-energy contact, with rubbing and material smearing. The reduction gearbox had fractured planet gear carrier webs with torsional deformation. Impact damage precluded assessment of pre-impact integrity of many components.
Medical and Pathological Information
A postmortem examination performed by the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office listed the cause of death as "thermal injuries." No soot was visible in the respiratory tract, and charring obscured any blunt force injuries. Forensic toxicology tests for volatiles and drugs were negative; testing for carbon monoxide and cyanide was not performed.