# Accident 20050404005059A: Airtrc AT602, Imperial, NE, April 4, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 4, 2005, 10:25 local time
- Place: Imperial, NE
- Airport: Imperial Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced Landing
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: QT0G
- Location: 40.5103° N, 101.6200° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5103&lon=-101.6200&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5015K, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5015K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-602 (registry code 0390309, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66 series (registry code 52118, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-66-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT602
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,301 total, 328 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI05LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05LA088) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050404005059A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT WAS FINISING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FOR THE DAY APPROXIMATELY 12 MILES SOUTHEAST OF IMPERIAL MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. DURING THE FINAL TWO APPLICATIONS THE PILOT NOTED THE WINDS WERE INCREASING DUE TO A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ENTERING THE AREA. AFTER THE FINAL APPLICATION THE PILOT TURNED BACK TOWARDS THE AIRPORT AND NOTED 1/4 FUEL IN ONE TANK AND 1/8 FUEL IN THE OTHER TANK. APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 MILES FINAL TO THE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE POWER FAILURE. THE PILOT INITIATED EMERGENCY PROCEDURES AND ATTEMPTED TO LAND IN A RECENTLY PLOWED FIELD. THE PILOT TRIED TO 3 POINT LAND THE AIRCRAFT HOWEVER, DUE TO THE RECENT RAINS AND THE FIELD CONDITIONS BEING SOFT, THE MAIN LANDING GEAR PENETRATED THE PLOWED SOIL APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 FEET DEEP CAUSING A VERY RAPID DECELERATION. THE MOMENTUM OF THE AIRCRAFT CAUSED THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT TO BECOME EMBEDDED INTO THE SOIL CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO BECOME INVERTED. THE PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT WAS NOT INJURED AND ESCAPED FROM THE WRECKAGE ON HIS OWN. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL AND THE PROPELLER. THE RIGHT WING AND THE CANOPY SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE.

## 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 CHI05LA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05LA088), Apr 4, 2005: Air Tractor AT-602 (N5015K), Imperial, NE, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning which led to fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. The soft ground was a factor.

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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