# Accident 20170629009639A: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Gwinner, ND, June 29, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 29, 2017, 07:41 local time
- Place: Gwinner, ND
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: VDKG
- Location: 46.2197° N, 97.8303° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.2197&lon=-97.8303&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4196Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4196Y-2018-05-03) (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-60AG (registry code 52101, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60ag) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-60AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA244](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA244) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170629009639A

## Narrative

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

PILOT LEFT LISBON ND APPROXIMATELY 0700 TO SPRAY FUNGICIDE ON POTATOES, SOUTHWEST OF CRASH SITE. AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED WITH 6OO GALLONS OF WATER AND CHEMICAL, 34.5 GALLONS OF CHEMICAL (BRAVO), AND 170 TO 190 GALLONS OF FUEL.

IT APPEARS PILOT WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE FIELDS DUE TO FOG IN THE AREA WHERE WEATHER REPORTING EQUIPMENT WAS NOT LOCATED,  AND IT APPEARS HE WAS ATTEMPTING  TO RETURN TO LISBON, ND  OR GWINNER, ND  BASED ON FLIGHT DIRECTION WHEN ACCIDENT HAPPENED.

AIRCRAFT ENCOUNTERS FOG BANK TO THE WEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE AND EXITS HEADING NORTHEAST, FLYING INTO RISING TERRAIN  APPROXIMATELY  0740 JUNE 29, 2017.

DUE TO THE IMPACT, DEBRIS FIELD AND DAMAGED PARTS IT APPEARS TO BE A LOW ANGLE, HIGH-ENERGY IMPACT.

## 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 CEN17LA244](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA244), Jun 29, 2017: Air Tractor AT 602 (N4196Y), Stirum, ND, destroyed, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to attempt flight with low-level fog in the area, which resulted in an encounter with instrument meteorological conditions and impact with terrain.

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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