No fatalities

Agricultural Application Flight Ends in Terrain Impact After Wing Contact with Power Line Pole

Napoleon, ND, United States

On September 21, 2018, an Air Tractor AT802 A operated by Mattern Spray was involved in an aviation accident near Napoleon, ND. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line pole during an agricultural application flight. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-09-03Data APIEditorial standards

During an agricultural application flight, the right wing of an airplane struck a power line pole, causing the aircraft to impact terrain. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions.

Incident Overview and Pilot Report During an agricultural application flight, the pilot reported that the right wing of the airplane struck a power line pole. Following this contact, the airplane impacted terrain. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Damage Assessment The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The source does not specify the aircraft type, registration, date, operator, location, or the exact cause of the accident beyond the pilot's report of the wing striking the power line pole.

Contributing factors

PilotEffect on operation

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 21 Sept 2018 Air Tractor AT802 A accident near Napoleon, ND?

During an agricultural application flight, the right wing of an airplane struck a power line pole, causing the aircraft to impact terrain. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions.

Were there any fatalities in the 21 Sept 2018 Air Tractor AT802 A accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 21 Sept 2018 involved an Air Tractor AT802 A, operated by Mattern Spray, at Napoleon, ND.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a power line pole during an agricultural application flight.