Air Tractor AT-401 accident near Hearne, Texas, August 30, 2002
On August 30, 2002 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-401, registered N9193Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hearne, Texas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a pump rig while maneuvering during an aerial application flight. A factor was the object.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2002 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Hearne, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Registration
- N9193Y · no longer on the register · serial 401-0932
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was defoliating a cotton field, starting on the south side working to the north, making alternate east and west spray passes, and that an oil pumping rig was located approximately 8 to 10 passes into the field. The pilot also stated that on all passes leading up to the pumping rig, he observed it not pumping, remaining off on the down stroke. As the airplane was making a pass on the north edge of the pumping rig in a westerly direction, the left wing obstructed the pilot's view of the obstacle. Subsequently, the left wing impacted the horse head on its upstroke, severing the outboard 6 to 8 feet of the wing. The pilot pulled the throttle back to idle and allowed the airplane to descend into the cotton field where it came to rest inverted. Oil company personnel at the accident site reported that oil pumping rigs are prevalent in the area. It was also reported that this particular pumping unit was on a timer and would shut off periodically.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,750 hours in all; 4,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 6,750 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 28, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,553 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2002; 35 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Hearne TX at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N9193Y the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.