# Accident 20130930020419A: Air Tractor Inc AT-402B, Wellton, AZ, September 30, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 30, 2013, 21:00 local time
- Place: Wellton, AZ
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 72TG
- Location: 32.6401° N, 114.2152° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wellton, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6401&lon=-114.2152&mi=10
- Aircraft: N402TR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N402TR-2014-02-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-402B (registry code 0390208, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG (registry code 52251, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34ag) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-402B
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-34AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,500 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130930020419A

## Narrative

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

ON THE NIGHT OF 09/30/13, THE PILOT OF N402TR WAS FLYING LOW OVER AGRICULTURAL FIELDS WEST OF WELLTON, ARIZONA.  THE PILOT WAS FLYING FOR A PART 137 AGRICULTURAL OPERATOR AT THE TIME OF THE FLIGHT.

THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED FROM THE TOWN OF SOMERTON (LOCATED 3-4 MILES SOUTHWEST OF YUMA).  HE RECEIVED HIS ALTIMETER SETTING FROM YUMA TOWER ENROUTE TO AGRICULTURAL FIELDS WEST OF WELLTON.

THE PILOT WAS TRYING TO IDENTIFY THE SPECIFIC FIELD THAT HE WAS ASSIGNED TO SPRAY.  HE WAS ATTEMPTING TO DECIPHER A MAP THAT HAD BEEN DRAWN OUT FOR HIM, DETAILING THE FIELD.  HE CLIMBED UP TO 300' AGL TO GIVE HIMSELF GREATER VERTICAL CLEARANCE AS HE READ HIS MAP.  AT THE TIME, HE STATED THAT THE CLOSEST LIGHTS WERE APPROXIMATELY 6-7 MILES AWAY, AND THERE WAS NO AMBIENT LIGHT AVAILABLE.  THE RED-COLORED MAP READING LIGHTS WERE ON IN THE COCKPIT, AND THE NAVIGATION AND STROBE LIGHTS WERE OPERATING.

AS HE CONTINUED FLYING AT APPROXIMATELY 300' AGL, HE MADE A "SOFT-LEFT TURN" TO AVOID KNOWN RISING TERRAIN.  AT THIS POINT, HE STATED THAT HE DIDN'T REALIZE HE WAS IN A GRADUAL DESCENT.

THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN SOFT DIRT WITH NO VEGETATION.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN HIT A ROADWAY, AND FLIPPED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED, AND THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO CLIMB AWAY FROM THE WRECKAGE WITH NO INJURIES.

## NTSB investigation

None matched to this report by aircraft and date. Search the NTSB's own records: https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-main-public/basic-search

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.