History of Flight
On July 25, 2023, at approximately 0711 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-402B (registration N291DL) was involved in an accident near Clara City, Minnesota, while conducting agricultural application flights under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The pilot had departed from a private airstrip at about 0619 and performed multiple east-west passes over a corn field approximately 3 miles north. After completing a north-to-south clean-up pass on the western side of the field near structures, the airplane turned left back toward the field. The final GPS data point, recorded at 0711, placed the airplane about 0.5 mile south of the field at an altitude of 1,323 feet mean sea level (msl). The accident site was located northwest of this point, at an elevation of about 1,060 feet msl. The airplane came to rest upright on a northwest heading, about 350 feet north of a set of power lines. The upper portion of the vertical stabilizer and the rudder were found near the power lines.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The power lines consisted of three transmission lines and one static line, oriented east-west along the south side of a road. The airplane struck the lowest of the three transmission lines, severing each conductor. The supporting core remained intact. Damage to the airplane included the fuselage, engine mount, both wings, and vertical stabilizer. The rudder was separated and exhibited a torn gouge from the leading edge to about mid-chord, consistent with impact to a power line. Examination of the airframe revealed no preimpact structural failure or flight control anomalies. The engine showed contact signatures consistent with operation at impact, with no preimpact mechanical anomalies observed.
Medical and Pathological Information
The pilot’s most recent aviation medical examination occurred on August 26, 2022, at which time he reported no medical conditions or medication use and was issued a first-class medical certificate without limitations. Following the accident, the pilot received medical care for multiple injuries but later died in the hospital due to complications from blunt force injuries. The Midwest Medical Examiner’s Office determined the cause of death as complications of blunt force injuries and the manner as accident. No autopsy was performed at the discretion of the medical examiner’s office, and no significant preaccident medical condition was identified during hospitalization. Hospital records indicated a prescription for a medication containing oxycodone from February 2023 (12 tablets). A hospital blood ethanol screen was negative. A urine drug screen performed two days after the accident detected oxycodone and opiates, which could be attributed to medications administered during postaccident care. FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory testing of an antemortem serum specimen collected on the accident date did not detect oxycodone or other opiates.