Accident Overview
On July 7, 2009, at approximately 1300 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, registration N8587S, operated by Ag-Flight Inc., was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Brinson, Georgia. The certificated private pilot was killed. The flight was a local instructional flight under 14 CFR Part 91, with visual meteorological conditions and no flight plan. It had originated from Decatur County Industrial Air Park (BGE) in Bainbridge, Georgia, around 1250.
Events Leading to the Accident
According to the pilot's flight instructor and ground personnel, the pilot was progressing with aerial application training. The pilot made multiple departures, practicing maneuvers including steep turns and minimum controllable airspeed, and returned to BGE for supervised takeoffs and landings. After each return, water was added to the aircraft's hopper. On the fourth departure, after adding 200 gallons or more of water, the pilot left to review maneuvers but no further contact was made.
Witness Observations
A witness living near the accident site reported seeing the airplane flying straight and level at about 700 feet above ground, heading south. It then made a left U-turn, flew north, and then turned left toward the west while climbing. The witness observed a large stream of water coming from the airplane, resembling smoke. Immediately after, the airplane entered a fast spiral straight down, with the water trailing. The witness heard continuous loud engine noise throughout. The witness's wife recalled similar events but only saw the water after the airplane began to spiral.
Post-Accident Examination
The airplane came to rest nose down in a peanut field. An FAA inspector examined the wreckage at the site and later in a hangar; an independent mechanic also examined it. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions was found. Only two small areas of fuel spill were noted near the engine, and surrounding vegetation was undamaged.
Control continuity was confirmed for the elevator, rudder, and ailerons. The elevator trim was found in the full forward (nose down) position. Both propeller blades showed impact damage consistent with engine power at the time. The throttle and mixture controls were in the idle/cutoff position, the propeller control lever was mid-range, and the wing flaps were extended. The engine could rotate only about 60 degrees due to impact, but when rotated, all pistons and magneto drives actuated. Fuel was present in the lines.
Pilot Information
The 31-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land rating, obtained on May 31, 2009. His total flight experience was about 239 hours. He had not flown the accident make and model before the accident day, accumulating about 2 hours that day. He had previously performed three water drops in a Piper Pawnee with a 235-horsepower engine and 100-gallon capacity, whereas the Air Tractor had a 600-horsepower engine and 200-gallon capacity.
The pilot's instructor noted that during a water drop, the control stick must be pushed aggressively forward to counteract the pitch-up moment. The Air Tractor pitched up more aggressively than the Pawnee due to higher weight.
Toxicology and Weather
An autopsy listed the cause of death as traumatic injuries from the crash. Toxicology testing detected oxycodone in urine (not blood), THC in lung (not blood), and THC carboxylic acid in urine, blood, and lung.
Weather recorded at BGE at 1257 included wind from 260 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 miles, scattered clouds at 2,300, 2,900, and 3,400 feet, temperature 28°C, dew point 23°C, and altimeter 29.89 inches of mercury.