Air Tractor AT502 N60642 accident near Monument, Kansas

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain altitude due to distraction by ground equipment in the airplane’s path, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from crops during an agricultural application flight and resulted in a loss of airplane control.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, during an agricultural application flight and while the airplane was about 10 ft above ground level, he became distracted by ground equipment in the airplane's path, and he inadvertently allowed the airplane to descend, which resulted in the right main landing gear descending and the right spray boom descending into the wheat crop. The airplane veered right, descended uncontrollably, and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA328 for the full record.