You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.
| Date: | Tuesday 22 October 2019 |
| Time: | 12:00 LT |
| Type: |  Air Tractor AT-502 |
| Owner/operator: | Plains Aerial Applicators Inc. |
| Registration: | N9143F |
| MSN: | 502-0197 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1992 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 11086 hours |
| Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney PT6A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Minor |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Dawson County east of Key, TX -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.) |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Langgur-Dumatubun Airport (LUV/WAPL) |
| Langgur-Dumatubun Airport (LUV/WAPL) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot was returning from a local aerial application flight when he decided to fly at low altitude past a wind turbine that he believed his friend was working on. The airplane's right wing collided with a tagline rope that was attached to one of the wind turbine blades and being held by a worker on the ground. The worker was thrown about 20 ft and sustained several fractured vertebrae and a broken leg. The airplane's right wing sustained minor damage; however, the pilot was able to make a normal landing at his intended destination without incident.
Probable Cause: The pilot's improper decision to maneuver at a low altitude and in close proximity to a wind turbine undergoing maintenance, which resulted in a collision with a tagline rope being held by a worker on the ground and serious injury to the worker.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N9143F
https://flightaware.com/photos/view/29032-1a5de6139122bafbdcabf5d1e13fd4d5ec189562/aircrafttype/
NTSB CEN20LA013
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 24-Oct-2019 17:55 | Geno | Added |
| 26-Mar-2021 19:16 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, Category, Accident report, ] |
| 26-Mar-2021 19:44 | harro | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Source, Narrative, ] |
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