Accident Air Tractor AT-602 N5123L, Monday 8 August 2011

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Date:	Monday 8 August 2011
Time:	04:30 LT
Type:	Air Tractor AT-602
Owner/operator:	M
Registration:	N5123L
MSN:	6020407
Year of manufacture:	1997
Total airframe hrs:	5296 hours
Engine model:	P&W Canada PT6A-66 SER
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	Willcox, Arizona - United States of America
Phase:	Manoeuvring (airshow, firefighting, ag.ops.)
Nature:	Agricultural
Departure airport:	Kansas Settleme, AZ (Priv)
Destination airport:	Kansas Settleme, AZ (Priv)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
During an aerial application flight, the pilot was performing a calibration pass on the target field at an altitude of about 60 feet above ground level when the airplane struck an unmarked 80-foot-tall tower. The airplane's engine lost power, and during the forced landing, the airplane struck a fence, which damaged the left wing. According to the pilot, the tower had recently been installed without his knowledge.

Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a tower while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the recent installation of the unmarked tower.

Accident investigation: