Air Tractor AT502 accident near Ute, Iowa, July 30, 2022
On July 30, 2022 at about 6:00 pm local time, a 2020 Air Tractor AT502, registered N501MW, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Ute, Iowa. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s inflight collision with a power line during aerial application.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2022 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ute, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT502 A, built 2020
- Registration
- N501MW · no longer on the register · serial 502A-3232
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While conducting an aerial application flight, the airplane’s left wing contacted a power line on the western edge of the field. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground nose-low and a postimpact fire ensued. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any anomalies which would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Response/compensation
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 5,900 hours in all; 1,370 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: November 18, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 748.5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 2022
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-140AG (turboprop); 748 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Midwest Custom Ag Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: KMEY Mapleton IA at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.16 inHg
- Observation at 12:55 pm from KDNS, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KDNS 301755Z AUTO 21008G15KT 180V240 9SM CLR 27/15 A3016 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
6 documents, released by the NTSB on February 28, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Examination Notes | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Email Concerning Crack | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Sun Position | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.