20080314012619A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Airtrc AT-301 · Columbus, MS · March 14, 2008

Date: March 14, 2008 · 18:45 local
Place: Columbus, MS
Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator: ZPWG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N7302C
NTSB investigation: NTSBMIA08CA078
Reported as: Airtrc AT301
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340*
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 650 total32 in this make and model22 in the last 90 days

N7302CRegistration cancelled Jun 20, 2008 · Air Tractor AT-301S/N 301-0592 · Built 1984 Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-301 Engine modelPratt & Whitney R1340 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) Pilot claims that while in a steep bank to the right, while maneuvering for another pass, he encountered a slight buffet. He added some flap and the buffet went away. As he continued in his steep bank turn to the right, he encountered another buffet that was more pronounced. The pilot added more flap, and the buffet went away. At the same time, the underside of the airplane was exposed to a direct crosswind and according to the pilot, he encountered a gust of wind that started rolling him further to the right. The pilot applied full left aileron and full left rudder pedal. The pilot said he knew he was going to crash and was trying to slow the airplane down more before impact. The left wing impacted the ground.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) PILOT CLAIMS THAT WHILE IN A STEEP BANK TO THE RIGHT, WHILE MANEUVERING FOR ANOTHER PASS, HE ENCOUNTERED A SLIGHT BUFFET. HE ADDED SOME FLAP AND THE BUFFET WENT AWAY. AS HE CONTINUED IN HIS STEEP BANK TURN TO THE RIGHT, HE ENCOUNTERED ANOTHER BUFFET THAT WAS MORE PRONOUNCED. THE PILOT ADDED MORE FLAP, AND THE BUFFET WENT AWAY. AT THE SAME TIME, THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AIRPLANE WAS EXPOSED TO A DIRECT CROSSWIND AND ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND THAT STARTED ROLLING HIM FURTHER TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL LEFT AILERON AND FULL LEFT RUDDER PEDAL. THE PILOT SAID HE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO CRASH AND WAS TRYING TO SLOW THE AIRPLANE DOWN MORE BEFORE IMPACT. THE LEFT WING IMPACTED THE GROUND.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB MIA08CA078Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportColumbus, MSThe failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed while maneuvering.Mar 14, 2008 · Substantial damage