Accident Air Tractor AT-301 N5018S, Monday 10 August 2009

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Date:	Monday 10 August 2009
Time:	12:40 LT
Type:	Air Tractor AT-301
Owner/operator:	Mikes Air Service Inc
Registration:	N5018S
MSN:	301-0107
Year of manufacture:	1977
Total airframe hrs:	7445 hours
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney R-1340
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	DeWitt, Illinois - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:	Cisco, IL (KPVT)
Destination airport:	Cisco, IL (KPVT)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The pilot reported that he made his first aerial application run without any problems. He said that during his second run he lost lift during a turn. He went to full power and tried to clear some trees. The left wing caught the top of a tree and the airplane sustained substantial damage on subsequent impact with terrain. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the tree during the aerial application maneuver.

Accident investigation: