You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Tuesday 9 April 2019 |
| Time: | 10:33 |
| Type: |  Air Tractor AT-502 |
| Owner/operator: | Bennard Strauss Rowland II |
| Registration: | N7314D |
| MSN: | 502-0003 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1987 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 10822 hours |
| Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney PT6A-15AG |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Harlingen, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Raymondville Airport, TX (KPVT) |
| Raymondville Airport, TX (KPVT) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On April 9, 2019, about 1033 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502 airplane, N7314D, collided with high-voltage power transmission lines and terrain while maneuvering at a low altitude near Harlingen, Texas. The commercial pilot was fatally injured, and the airplane was destroyed during impact and a postimpact fire. The airplane was owned by the pilot and operated by Rowland Dusters under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 without a flight plan. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the accident site. The local agricultural application flight departed a private airstrip, near Raymondville, Texas, about 1005.
The pilot was conducting an agricultural flight when witnesses observed the airplane flying at a low altitude before it collided with power transmission lines and terrain. The airplane was destroyed during a postimpact fire. Examination of the airplane wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Toxicology testing detected the sedating antihistamine diphenhydramine in the pilot’s blood. Considering that postmortem redistribution of diphenhydramine may result in central levels being two-to-three times higher than peripheral levels, the circulating level was likely in the therapeutic range at the time of the accident. Given the pilot’s years of experience and familiarity with the agricultural airplane, it is reasonable to consider diminished reaction times and flying performance attributable to the use of sedating medication likely contributed to the accident.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power transmission lines during low altitude flight operations. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to a sedating medication.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://valleycentral.com/news/local/dps-responding-to-small-plane-crash-in-harlingen
https://www.valleymorningstar.com/news/local_news/dps-pilot-killed-in-crop-duster-crash-near-expressway/article_e3298f60-5ae0-11e9-8a2c-4f72142a5330.html?mode=jqm
http://www.kurv.com/pilot-killed-in-small-plane-crash-in-rural-cameron-county/
https://www.krgv.com/news/emergency-crews-responding-to-small-plane-crash-in-cameron-co-/
NTSB
https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=7314D
http://all-aero.com/index.php/44-planes-a-b-c/672-air-tractor-at-501-at-502-at-503
Location
Images:
Photos: NTSB
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 09-Apr-2019 16:18 | gerard57 | Added |
| 09-Apr-2019 16:44 | Captain Adam | Updated [Narrative, ] |
| 09-Apr-2019 18:15 | gerard57 | Updated [Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 09-Apr-2019 18:55 | Captain Adam | Updated [Aircraft type, Location, Phase, Nature, Source, Damage, Narrative, ] |
| 09-Apr-2019 19:12 | Geno | Updated [Time, Phase, Source, ] |
| 10-Apr-2019 00:24 | Geno | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 10-Apr-2019 05:08 | Iceman 29 | Updated [Source, Embed code, ] |
| 10-Apr-2019 13:51 | Captain Adam | Updated [Registration, Operator, Embed code, Narrative, ] |
| 22-Jul-2022 00:09 | Captain Adam | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Embed code, Narrative, Category, Accident report, Photo, ] |
| 22-Jul-2022 00:10 | Captain Adam | Updated [Photo, ] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2025 Flight Safety Foundation