No fatalities

Aerial Application Accident Involves Tree Strike and Terrain Impact

DeWitt, IL, United States

On August 10, 2009, an AIR TRACTOR INC AT-301 operated by MIKES AIR SERVICE INC was involved in an aviation accident near DeWitt, IL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the tree during the aerial application maneuver. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

During an aerial application operation, a pilot lost lift in a turn and struck a tree with the left wing, resulting in substantial damage after the aircraft impacted the terrain. No mechanical malfunctions were reported.

Incident Overview and Pilot Report The pilot stated that the initial aerial application run was completed without any issues. During the second run, the pilot reported losing lift while executing a turn. In response, the pilot advanced the engine to full power and attempted to clear a line of trees. ## Impact and Damage The left wing of the aircraft struck the top of a tree. Following this initial contact, the airplane continued and impacted the terrain, sustaining substantial damage. ## Mechanical Condition The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane prior to or during the incident.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on equipment