# Accident 20120402004609A: Air Tractor Inc AT-402A, Ganado, TX, April 2, 2012

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 2, 2012, 09:00 local time
- Place: Ganado, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: NE0G
- Location: 28.9825° N, 96.4122° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9825&lon=-96.4122&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4544S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4544S-2018-01-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-402A (registry code 0390206, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52034, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-402A
- Reported engine: P&W PT6A SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,600 total, 550 in this make and model, 98 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN12CA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA221) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120402004609A

## Narrative

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

ON 04/02/2012, AT APPROXIMATELY 09:00 (CDT) AN AIR TRACTOR, N4544S, MODEL 402A, S/N 402A-0782 WAS SEBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A FIELD, AFTER TAKEOFF.THE PILOT STATED THAT AT TAKEOFF, THE WINDSHIELD AND SIDE WINDOWS BECAME COVERED WITH CHEMICAL ESCAPING FROM THE HOPPER COVER AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN VISUAL REFERENCE OR LEVEL FLIGHT.THE AIRCRAFT WAS PROPERLY CERTIFICATED FOR THE LOCAL CFR PART 137 FLIGHT ORIGINATING FROM A PRIVATE AIR STRIP, GANADO, TEXAS.THE PILOT WAS PROPERLY CERTIFICATED FOR THE FLIGHT AND WAS NOT INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT.DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT INCLUDED BOTH WINGS, MAIN LANDING GEAR, PROPELLER, ENGINE AND MOUNT, ALL FLIGHT CONTROLS.THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE

## 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 CEN12CA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA221), Apr 2, 2012: Air Tractor AT-402A (N4544S), Ganado, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The improper positioning of the hopper vent, which allowed chemicals to escape and cover the airplane's windshield.

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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