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CEN20CA312

2020-07-27 · Tiro, Ohio, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N602FH

Make / Model
AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602
Year of manufacture
2008 · 12 years old at event
Engine
P&W CANADA PT6A-60AG (1050 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20080529
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A7CF32

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance while attempting to fly under power lines during an aerial application pass.

Factual narrative

The pilot was conducting an aerial application flight at the time of the accident. Before spraying, he circled the field and noted high tension power lines. He completed 3 spray runs without incident, passing under the power lines on 2 of those passes. However, on the 4th pass, the pilot "did not maintain a low enough altitude" and the vertical stabilizer struck the lines. The upper portion of the vertical stabilizer and the entire rudder separated from the airframe. He was able to maintain control with a "total loss of rudder control" and executed a forced landing to a harvested wheat field. The pilot was conducting an aerial application flight at the time of the accident. Before spraying, he circled the field and noted high tension power lines. He completed 3 spray runs without incident, passing under the power lines on 2 of those passes. However, on the 4th pass, the pilot "did not maintain a low enough altitude" and the vertical stabilizer struck the lines. The upper portion of the vertical stabilizer and the entire rudder separated from the airframe. He was able to maintain control with a "total loss of rudder control" and executed a forced landing to a harvested wheat field. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action performance-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Wire-Contributed to outcome - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2020_CEN20CA312.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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