Accident Air Tractor AT-502B N598LA, Wednesday 17 October 2012

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Date:	Wednesday 17 October 2012
Time:	14:30 LT
Type:	Air Tractor AT-502B
Owner/operator:	King Ag Leasing Inc
Registration:	N598LA
MSN:	502B-2598
Engine model:	Pratt & Whitney PT6
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Portales, New Mexico - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:	Portales, NM
Destination airport:	Portales, NM
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
The private pilot was maneuvering the airplane above a crop field during an aerial application flight. Upon entering the field from the south, the pilot misjudged the airplane's distance from power lines and struck a power line. He subsequently lost control of the airplane, which impacted terrain and came to rest inverted, sustaining substantial damage to the empennage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane or engine.

Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial application flight.

Accident investigation: