Accident Details
On April 7, 2020, at about 1945 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502 airplane, registration N9185D, was destroyed when it collided with the top of a tree at the edge of a field before impacting the ground near Pecan Gap, Texas. The pilot, who was conducting aerial applications under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137, received fatal injuries.
Wreckage and Examination
No witnesses were present. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector noted that the airplane struck a tree, then impacted the field. Pieces including the engine were scattered along the debris path. A post-crash fire consumed most of the fuselage. The engine separated into two pieces; rotational scoring was observed on turbine blades. Three propeller blades remained in the hub attached to the engine front section. Two blade tips were sheared off, each showing lengthwise and chordwise twisting.
Post-Accident Findings
After recovery, NTSB investigators examined the fuselage at a salvage facility. Fire and impact damage limited the examination, but no pre-impact flight control discrepancies were noted. The pilot initially survived the accident and received medical care. No autopsy or toxicological test was performed; a review of the pilot’s FAA medical history and treatment found no evidence of a preexisting medical condition that could have contributed.