What happened
On March 2, 2026, at approximately 07:20 local time, an Air Tractor AT-502B registered as HK-5458 struck overhead electrical power lines while performing agricultural spraying operations. The aircraft was operating in the vicinity of the "Dallas" farm plot in Chigorodó, Antioquia, Colombia.
The flight began at 06:20 local time from San Jacinto aerodrome (SKJZ). The pilot completed a reconnaissance pass and then executed the first spraying mission, which concluded with a landing at 06:47 for refueling. After re-fueling, the aircraft departed again at 06:53 to continue operations over the target field.
During the second mission, while executing one of the final passes with the spray system active, the pilot reported focusing on clearing obstacles, specifically a prominent dry tree and power lines. The pilot perceived a sudden nose-down pitch attitude and immediately applied corrective control input to raise the nose and recover altitude. During this maneuver, the aircraft descended below the level of the power lines. At 07:20 local time, the propeller blades and main landing gear struck the electrical cables.
Following the impact, the pilot canceled the pass, climbed to a safe altitude, and verified aircraft controllability. Engine parameters, including turbine temperature and torque, remained within normal limits, and no aerodynamic anomalies were observed. The pilot noted that one of the electrical cables had been severed. Despite the damage, the pilot completed the remaining spray pass at 07:26 and returned to San Jacinto aerodrome, landing safely at 07:32 local time.
Upon taxiing to the apron, ground personnel informed the pilot that the left main wheel was deflated. The pilot exited the aircraft unharmed. The incident occurred in daylight under visual meteorological conditions (VMC).
The investigation
The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority’s Accident Investigation Directorate (DIACC) was notified by the operator on March 4, 2026. Field inspections were conducted at the "Dallas" farm plot and on the aircraft itself.
Site inspection revealed that the agricultural field is a large banana plantation with flat topography. Overhead power lines traverse the crop area at an altitude higher than the banana canopy but lower than isolated trees. Investigators noted that these cables are difficult to perceive visually, particularly under diffuse lighting conditions where contrast with the surrounding vegetation is limited.
At the time of the inspection on March 6, 2026, the damaged electrical lines had already been repaired by the utility provider, EPM. However, the specific location of the impact was identified by the splice point used to restore service.
Aircraft inspection revealed several distinct types of damage:
- Landing Gear: The left main wheel was found deflated. The tire and inner tube had been removed and quarantined with a red tag, preventing further examination of the puncture cause. However, the left main wheel rim exhibited localized material fusion and weld-like spots on the outer edge, consistent with thermal effects from an electrical arc or discharge.
- Abrasion Marks: Surface abrasion marks were observed on the right main wheel tire and brake assembly. Additionally, paint removal and longitudinal abrasion marks were found on the left main landing gear leg/bellows. These marks are consistent with mechanical contact against the power line.
- Propeller: The propeller blades displayed localized cuts along the leading edges, accompanied by minor deformations and material discontinuities. The linear geometry of these cuts is compatible with high-speed interaction with a thin, extended object such as an electrical cable.