Air Tractor INC AT-602 accident near Pine Bluffs, Wyoming, August 17, 2011
On August 17, 2011 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Air Tractor INC AT-602, registered N8518Y, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Pine Bluffs, Wyoming (Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport). 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 from power lines during an aerial application flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2011 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pine Bluffs, Wyoming · Pine Bluffs Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-602 · all AT-602s on the register
- Registration
- N8518Y · no longer on the register · serial 602-0689
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he was conducting an aerial application flight when he inadvertently struck power lines while maneuvering. The airplane struck the ground with the right wing first and then rolled to the left, coming to rest with the left wing and tail section contacting the ground. The pilot reported no mechanical problems with the airplane and stated the accident could have been prevented if he had paid more attention to the wire height, and maintained additional clearance above the wires.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,032 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 170 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 82V Pine Bluffs WY at 7:00 pm
- Destination: 82V Pine Bluffs WY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from IBM, 21 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
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.