N602BAAir Tractor AT-602 · 2009

On September 5, 2024, about 1014 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602 airplane, N602BA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Camden, Colorado. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 agricultural flight.

A witness to the accident reported seeing the airplane complete an initial A-B line, followed by the first spray pass (presumably to the east) of the sugar beet field. The airplane then made a turn towards the west and began its second spray pass along the northern edge of the sugar beet field on a west heading. The witness noted that the airplane appeared to pitch up over a grouping of large cottonwood trees, when it rolled to the right and descended into the cornfield north of County Rd W, as depicted in Figure 1.

Based on the wreckage distribution, the airplane was flying west along the north edge of the field when the outboard 3 ft of the right wing impacted a power transformer that was mounted to a power pole, as shown in Figure 2. According to the power company, the power pole’s first cross support was about 37 ft above ground level (agl) and the second cross support was 39 ft agl. The power transformers exhibited evidence of impact damage, consisting of dents, yellow paint chips, and yellow paint transfers, as shown in Figure 3.

After impact with the power transformer, a wreckage debris path began from the power pole and continued west in the uncultivated portion of the field south of County Rd W. There were numerous yellow paint chips located directly underneath the power pole and scattered along wreckage debris path. Also found along the debris path were the right aileron counterbalance weight with mounting bracket right wing tip, outboard half of the right aileron, and right-wing aileron cove skin. The right-wing tip was found about 240 ft west-southwest of the power pole.

After the impact with the power pole, the airplane traveled 1,232 ft to the west-northwest where it impacted inverted in a cornfield, as shown in Figure 4. The airplane remained inverted and slid 116 ft to the west-northwest. There was no evidence of a postimpact fire.

An onsite wreckage examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. All primary (elevators, ailerons, and rudder) flight control surfaces with their respective trim tabs and counterbalance weights, and the flaps were accounted for during the onsite investigation. Flight control continuity from the cockpit to the ailerons and elevator could not be confirmed due to impact-related damage; however, all observed push/pull control tube damage was consistent with impact-related overstress damage or were cut to facilitate wreckage recovery. The rudder cables were continuous from the rudder horn to their respective pedal in the cockpit. The flaps remained attached to their respective wing and appeared to be in the fully retracted position. The flap actuator jackscrew position was found extended 0.125 inch, consistent with the flaps fully retracted at impact. The engine and propeller exhibited damage that was consistent with engine operation at impact.

Figure 1. Estimated airplane flight path and impact sequence.

Figure 2. Location of power pole as seen facing west along County Rd W.

Figure 3. Damaged power transformers.

Figure 4. Overhead photo of the initial ground impact and main wreckage. (Morgan County Sheriff’s Office)