After completing an aerial application flight, the commercial pilot was returning to the base airport over 15 nautical miles away when the Air Tractor AT-502 hit terrain near West, Texas, and was consumed by a post-impact fire. The pilot died in the crash.
Although the wreckage was significantly fragmented and damaged by fire, no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe or engine were noted that would have precluded normal operation.
Examination of the accident site and wreckage revealed cellular tower guy wire and right wing damage that was consistent with the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the guy wires while intentionally flying at a low altitude in visual meteorological conditions.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to see and avoid cellular tower guy wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate at low altitude.
NTSB Identification: CEN16LA181
This May 2016 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
It just doesn’t seem wright for the cellular tower people to construct towers wherever they want or next too, and they don’t identify the wires or any other part of the tower. They are saying, ” its up to the people flying to look this info. up among other sources of identifying these killer objects. I”m sure the pilot had been flying this route for a long time . I also think the tower people should be held accountable for these terrible towers. Its a monitory thing for the cell tower people. It is also the pilots means of making a living, the tower people interfered with the pilots way of life, thus causing his death, and I suppose this is o.k.!!! I think the tower people should be held responsible for everything, they should of looked for people traveling these areas and build there cell tower elsewhere. It’s just not right !!!
Some info from reading the NTSB report;
– the tower is on the sectional chart
– the Sectional shows the minimum safe altitude in bold blue numbers.
– the tower is only 245 ft AGL
– it’s lighted and has visible panels. [ all towers are now require to be lighted].
– it was near mid-day, so there was not glare or Sun problems.
It is risky to fly lower than 500 agl, and in a lot of places, not legal. The traffic pattern is the only place that we have to fly low.
Here in No. CA., we have TV towers at 2,000 ft agl, along with’ twirly’ wind turbines at 500+ ft.agl
The Sacramento area shows 2,200 ft agl as the minimum safe altitude, even though Sac is at 27 ft msl.
This pilot was an ‘older’ , high time pilot and it looks like he just got careless….sad.
I would like to reply to your post Joe. Some years ago I was fertilizing a rice field along with a second pilot (we flew using two aircraft then). I was waiting for the second pilot to finish his load by flying around the field at about 50 or so feet. You know when the second pilot is going to make his last pass by doing a shandelle (sp) at the end of his second-to- last pass. I was so intent on watching him to make his last pass I forgot the oil rig just North of the field (and in my line of flight). I saw him end his passes with his shandelle (sp) so I abruptly shoved my aircraft to the left. As I did I saw the letters (Bethleham Steel) written on the derrick of the oil rig. I missed that rig by about 10 feet. I was so involved in watching something else I completely forgot the oil rig. I had my head up my *** and by the grace of God I am still here at 81years old.
Who was it who said something like this? “The sky, as is the ocean, is not inherently dangerous, but is very unforgiving of carelessness”.
I have a red paint rub on the bottom of my Yellow Pixie Pober’s right wing, six inches outboard of the strut!
I noticed the red paint while I was picking pine needles off the landing gear, and yes, I had to buy a new prop.
I haven’t scud run since. Jim.
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an old friend, Hannes Linkke once delivered a new AG plane from the Schweizer Aircraft Factory, Almira, NY, to Southern California (basic panel, no radios) while navigating by freeway signs.
Sadly I don’t think there was any valid reason to be that low while returning to the airport.
Was the tower charted?
Do Ag Pilots use charts?
There is an outdated stereotype of ag pilots that construes them all as devil-may-care cowboys smoking while fueling and spilling pesticides everywhere, including on themselves. Those who would visit most ag operations would be astounded by the paperwork gymnastics required along with the sophisticated understanding of finances, chemistry, and, oh yes, the advanced technology in the airplanes along with the professionalism of the pilots and loaders.
Very true, but sometimes the best get careless and tangle with guy wires.
I have a red paint rub on the bottom of the left wing, about 6 inches outboard from the strut. Don’t know when or where!!
Most don’t smoke, but you still gotta be a Cowboy to be an aerial applicator!! (Crop Duster)