BELLE GLADE, FL, USA
N50470
Air Tractor AT-502B
The pilot made a swath run to the west, turned east bound and collided with known wires along the swath route. The pilot immediately experienced flight control problems due to damage from the in-flight collision. He returned to the departure airport, landed, and experienced a loss of directional control on landing roll out.
On December 6, 2000, at about 0915 eastern standard time, an Air Tractor AT-502, N50470, registered to a private owner, operated by South Florida Crop Care as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight experienced an in-flight collision with a wire during an aerial application swath run. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated from Belle Glade State Airport, Belle Glade, Florida, about 30 minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he had made an aerial application swath run to west, turned east and collided with wires. He further stated he had sprayed in the area before and picked out the wrong wires resulting in the in-flight collision with the wires. He immediately experienced a control problem and was going to make a forced landing to a highway, but elected not to do so due to traffic. He approached Belle Glade State Airport from the north and was planning on making a right turn to runway 27. He had to use full left aileron to prevent the airplane from rolling. On touchdown, the airplane started an uncommanded turn to the right, departed the runway, skipped a ditch into a cane field, and spun around 180 degrees before coming to a complete stop.
The pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout during a swath run resulting in an in-flight collision with known wires along the swath run, and a loss of directional control on landing roll due to flight control damage sustained during the in-flight collision.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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