# Accident 20020722017579A: Airtrc AT401B, Pratt, KS, July 22, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 22, 2002, 10:40 local time
- Place: Pratt, KS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: WDPG
- Location: 37.6405° N, 98.7306° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6405&lon=-98.7306&mi=10
- Aircraft: N60747, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60747-2011-11-16) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-401B (registry code 0390207, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT401B
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA206) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020722017579A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON JULY 22, 2002, AT 1040 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-401B, N60747, OPERATED BY FARMERS SPRAYING SERVICE INC., WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT IMPACTED TERRAIN DURING AN APPROACH TO A CORNFIELD. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE 14 CFR PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE AIRLINE TRANSPORT PILOT WAS UNINJURED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM THE PRATT INDUSTRIAL AIRPORT (PTT), PRATT, KANSAS, AT 1028. (-23) ON 07/22/02 AT APPROXIMATELY 1040 LOCAL, ANTHONY R. STURGEON (PILOT CERT. NO. 510780143) WAS CONDUCTING AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS IN AN AIR TRACTOR 401B, APPROXIMATELY 4 MILES NORTH AND 3 MILES WEST OF THE PRATT, KS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. THE PILOT STATED, ON THE FOURTH PASS OVER THE CORN FIELD, THE SINK RATE OF THE AIRCRAFT BECAME EXCESSIVE AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN THE CORN FIELD. THE ON SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED INTO THE CORN, RIGHT WING HEAVY. AS FORWARD MOTION CONTINUED, THE RIGHT WING AND PROPELLER CLIPPED OFF CORN TOPS. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN LANDING GEAR IMPACTED THE CORN FIELD, THE TAIL SECTION PITCHED UP AND TO THE LEFT. THE AIR                   CRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND (2ND TIME) COMING TO REST AT APPROXIMATELY 130 TO 160 DEGREES FROM THE ORIGINAL FLIGHT PATH. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.

## 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 CHI02LA206](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA206), Jul 22, 2002: Air Tractor AT-401B (N60747), Pratt, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance. A factor was low altitude flight.

## Other reports on N60747 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20090804016509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090804016509A), Aug 4, 2009: Airtrc AT401B (N60747), Oelwein, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) Two separate witnesses stated that the aircraft let out a puff of smoke prior to the accident. The aircraft lost engine power. The pilot made an…

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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