On 24 Jul 2019, an Air Tractor AT 502 Undesignat was involved in an aviation accident near Welsh, LA. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a telephone 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.
A tailwheel-equipped airplane struck a telephone pole with its left wing while maneuvering to avoid the pole during an aerial application low pass, then impacted the ground inverted and sustained substantial damage.
Accident Details
During an aerial application low pass, the pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane descended below the height of wires adjacent to the field. The pilot subsequently observed a telephone pole and maneuvered to avoid it, but the airplane's left wing struck the top of the pole. The airplane then rolled left through a tree and impacted the ground inverted.
Aircraft Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Pilot Report
According to the pilot, there were no mechanical issues with the airplane prior to the accident. The pilot's report did not indicate any other contributing factors.