# Accident 19970812022479A: Airtrc AT402, Patterson, LA, August 12, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 12, 1997, 10:30 local time
- Place: Patterson, LA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 29.6903° N, 91.2999° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6903&lon=-91.2999&mi=10
- Aircraft: N90PK (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT402
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA311) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970812022479A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

AIRCRAFT STRUCK TOP OF SUGAR CANE WHILE PERFORMING AERIAL APPLICATION, NOSED OVER INTO THE FIELD, BOUNCED. (-23) WHILE SPRAYING PILOT GOT TOO LOW, ALLOWING GEAR TO HIT TOP OF SUGAR CANE, CAUSING AIRCRAFT TO NOSE OVER, RESULTING IN PROP STRIKE, GEAR SEPARATION. AIRCRAFT BOUNCED UP AND CAME DOWN ON TAIL CAUSING FURTHER DAMAGE TO WINGS AND EMPENNAGE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA311), Aug 12, 1997: Air Tractor AT-402 (N90PK), Patterson, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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