Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the wires during the aerial application pass.
NTSB analysis
According to a statement from the pilot, he was conducting an aerial application pass when the airplane struck power lines along his route of flight. The pilot performed a forced landing to an open field shortly thereafter. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector who traveled to the accident site the fuselage was buckled between the cabin and the empennage, the upper portion of the rudder had separated from the vertical stabilizer, and the outboard portion of the right wing was crushed, torn, and bent aft. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN10CA391 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 11, 2010
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Lake Village, Arkansas
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Air Tractor AT602
- N-number
- N42590
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 137 (agricultural)
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial application
Other records under this N-number
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.