No fatalities

20 Oct 2012: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B — DOUBLE R FLIGHT SERVICE INC — Newton, GA

Newton, GA, United States

On 20 Oct 2012, an AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B operated by DOUBLE R FLIGHT SERVICE INC was involved in an aviation accident near Newton, GA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot misjudged the location of a static cable. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During an agricultural application flight over a cotton field, the pilot misjudged the location of a static cable while turning, causing the main landing gear to contact the cable and resulting in a forced landing with substantial structural damage.

Incident Overview

A pilot conducting agricultural application operations over a cotton field reported that the field was bordered by a set of power lines. After completing a pass over the field, the pilot ascended to fly over the power lines. While turning back toward the field, the pilot misjudged the location of a static cable.

Sequence of Events

The airplane's main landing gear contacted the static cable, causing the aircraft to enter a rapid descent. The pilot initiated a forced landing in the cotton field. The landing was hard, resulting in substantial damage to the wings and empennage.

Pilot Report

The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight. No other details regarding injuries, weather conditions, or time of day were provided in the report.

Probable cause

The pilot misjudged the location of a static cable.

Contributing factors

Causes

Pilot

Other contributing factors

Effect on equipment