ERA09LA128

The pilot's improper preflight weather planning and his continued VFR flight into IMC conditions resulting in an in-flight collision with trees.

The non-instrument rated pilot departed an estimated 20 minutes in trail behind another pilot flying to the same destination airport, for an intended fuel stop, located approximately 239 nautical miles away. The two pilots exchanged two-way communications using text messaging and the first pilot performed a precautionary landing in a field due to adverse weather. At approximately 1155, the pilot sent a text message to his brother advising him he was on the way home and dodging weather. At approximately 1156, the accident pilot was sent a text message asking about the weather to which he replied he could not see. Witnesses near the area reported hearing a sound and the airplane impacted trees. The airplane impacted trees ,then the ground, and was destroyed by impact and the postcrash fire. Inspection of the engine, airframe, and flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT On January 2, 2009, about 1200 central standard time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N5013C, registered to and operated by Quinn Aviation, Inc., collided with trees then the ground near Philadelphia, Mississippi. As reported by the pilot, instrument meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 positioning flight from Mac Crenshaw Memorial Airport (PRN), Greenville, Alabama, to Cleveland Municipal Airport (RNV), Cleveland, Mississippi. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant was killed. The flight originated about 1124, from PRN. There was no contact with any Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) air traffic control (ATC) facility during the accident flight. A pilot who departed the same airport as the accident pilot, and who was en route to the same fuel stop destination, stated that he departed PRN at approximately 1100. Records obtained by search and rescue personnel indicate that at 1144, the accident pilot sent a text message to the pilot that had departed before him advising that he was 235 statute miles (sm) from Cleveland, Mississippi. At 1147, the accident pilot sent another text message to the pilot advising that he was 200 sm from Cleveland, Mississippi. At 1154, the pilot that departed before the accident pilot sent a text message to the accident pilot advising him that he was going to Meridian, Mississippi. At 1155, the accident pilot sent a text message to his brother that he was on the way home and dodging weather. At 1157, the pilot who had departed before the accident pilot sent a text message to the accident pilot questioning how is the weather, to which the accident pilot replied, "can't see." At 1201, the pilot who had departed before the accident pilot sent a text message to the accident pilot asking how far he was from Cleveland, Mississippi. The accident pilot did not respond. The pilot who had departed before the accident pilot reported to Safety Board personnel that he performed a precautionary landing in a field between Liberty and Moscow, Mississippi. He indicated that adverse weather conditions precluded further flight to the planned destination airport. A search for the airplane was initiated by Mississippi and Alabama wings of the civil air patrol (CAP) on January 2, 2009, at 2319 and 2324, respectively. The CAP incident commander reported they were only able to fly 2 sorties due to the adverse weather that continued throughout the search process. In addition, a search by several Mississippi law enforcement agencies occurred. The wreckage was located on January 5, 2009, at approximately 1654, by the land owner that the airplane had crashed on. According to law enforcement personnel, the main wreckage came to rest at the end of an approximately 70 yard ground scar. The airplane was substantially damaged by impact and postcrash fire. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 48, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine land rating issued February 18, 2000, and held a second class medical certificate with no limitations issued March 25, 2008. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report submitted by the operator indicated the pilot's total time was estimated to be 7,500 hours, with 2,500 hours in the accident make and model airplane. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was manufactured in 1997 by Air Tractor, Inc., as model AT-602, and was designated serial number 602-0428. It was powered by a 1,050 shaft horsepower Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60AG engine and equipped with a constant speed Hartzell propeller. Review of the maintenance records revealed the airplane was last inspected in accordance with a 100-Hour inspection on November 3, 2008. The airplane total time at that time was listed as 5,700.5 hours. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION A surface observation weather report taken at Key Field Airport (MEI), Meridian, Mississippi, on the day of the accident at 1058, or approximately 26 minutes before the flight departed indicated the wind was from 170 degrees at 6 knots, the visibility was 10 statute miles, and scattered clouds existed at 1,100 feet. The temperature and dew point were 17 and 13 degrees Celsius, respectively, and the altimeter setting was 30.02 inches of mercury (inHg). The Key Field Airport is located approximately 31 nautical miles and 161 degrees from the crash site location. A surface observation weather report taken at MEI on the day of the accident at 1158, indicated the wind was from 190 degrees at 3 knots, the visibility was 10 statute miles, and overcast clouds existed at 1,300 feet. The temperature and dew point were 17 and 14 degrees Celsius, respectively, and the altimeter setting was 30.00 inHg. A surface observation weather report taken at MEI on the day of the accident at 1258, indicated the wind was from 170 degrees at 3 knots, the visibility was 9 statute miles with light rain, and overcast clouds existed at 1,100 feet. The temperature and dew point were 17 and 14 degrees Celsius, respectively, and the altimeter setting was 29.97 inHg. A surface observation weather report taken at MEI on the day of the accident at 1358, indicated the wind was calm, the visibility was 9 statute miles, and overcast clouds existed at 1,100 feet. The temperature and dew point were 18 and 15 degrees Celsius, respectively, and the altimeter setting was 29.96 inHg. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION Examination of the accident site and wreckage was initially performed by an FAA airworthiness inspector. The wreckage was located at 32 degrees, 49.765 minutes North latitude and 088 degrees, 57.196 minutes West longitude, or approximately 133 nautical miles and 297 degrees from the departure airport. The crash site was also located approximately 106 nautical miles and 122 degrees from the intended fuel stop airport. The FAA inspector who examined the accident site reported the airplane crashed in a heavily wooded area, which was difficult to access from the ground. The trees at the accident sight were tall pines and an unknown species of hardwood saplings. Aircraft debris was noted along the energy path among the trees. The first impact was at two pine trees. The left horizontal and elevator were separated from the aircraft and located near there. Pieces of fiberglass, aluminum, and other debris were scattered up to the final resting position. The aircraft came to rest against another tall pine tree. The nose was down and the tail was off the ground. The fuselage and left wing were consumed in the fire. The right wing was totally demolished. The right horizontal and vertical were still connected to the empennage. All parts of the aircraft appeared to be present. A search of the crash site and wreckage for a global positioning system (GPS) receiver was not successful. The airplane was recovered for further examination. Examination of the airframe and engine was performed by representatives of the airframe and engine manufacturer's with FAA oversight. Examination of the airframe revealed it was fragmented and burnt. The wings were completely separated from the fuselage and fragmented, and the forward section of the fuselage frame was also fragmented. The fiberglass hopper was broken up into numerous pieces. Both main landing gear legs were separated from the forward structure of the fuselage. The cockpit section of the fuselage was also fragmented. Numerous tubes of the aft fuselage were bent. The vertical stabilizer remained attached to the aft fuselage, but the rest of the empennage surfaces were not attached to the fuselage. The vertical stabilizer was attached to the aft fuselage and damaged by fire. The empennage, except for the vertical fin was found separated from the fuselage. The elevators remained attached to the stabilizers at the hinge points. T