# Accident 20170802010269A: Air Tractor Inc AT-402B, San Angelo, TX, August 2, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 2, 2017, 17:38 local time
- Place: San Angelo, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.3567° N, 100.4992° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3567&lon=-100.4992&mi=10
- Aircraft: N38HT, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38HT-2023-02-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-402B (registry code 0390208, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-402B
- Reported engine: PRATT AND WHITNEY T74-GP-702
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 6,960 total, 240 in this make and model, 88 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA469](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA469) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170802010269A

## Narrative

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

THIS WAS A RESEARCH FLIGHT RELATED TO WEATHER MODIFICATION.  THE AIRCRAFT HAD A SPRAY SYSTEM THAT PUT AN ELECTRICAL CHARGE ON THE WATER AS IT EXITED THE SPRAY BOOM.  THERE WERE RESEARCHERS ON THE GROUND COLLECTING REAL TIME DATA FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE FLIGHT BEGAN WITH 350 GALLONS (400 GALLON CAPACITY) OF WATER IN THE HOPPER AND THE INTENT WAS TO FIND UPLIFTING CONDITIONS (THERMALS) TO SPRAY THE WATER.  UPLIFTING CONDITIONS FOR THIS FLIGHT WHICH HAD LASTED 2.0 HOURS, WERE NOT GOOD, SO PILOT DECIDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT.  THE HOPPER STILL HAD 281 GALLONS OF WATER WHICH WEIGHED APPROXIMATELY 2250 POUNDS.  PILOT TOOK THIS INTO CONSIDERATION DURING THE APPROACH KNOWING THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEAVIER THAN NORMAL LANDINGS WITH AN EMPTY HOPPER.  THE REMAINING FUEL ON BOARD WAS APPROXIMATELY 50 GALLONS. BEGINNING FUEL LOAD WAS 164 GALLONS. PILOT USED 100 MPH AS APPROACH SPEED AND SET 10 DEGREES FLAPS.  THERE WAS A RIGHT CROSSWIND OF ABOUT 30 DEGREES AT APPROXIMATELY 10 KTS.  PILOT HAD RIGHT WING DOWN AND LEFT RUDDER TO KEEP THE FUSELAGE STRAIGHT WITH RUNWAY.  AS PILOT FLARED FOR LANDING, PILOT LEVELED THE WINGS, REDUCED POWER TO IDLE, AND TOUCHED DOWN IN A THREE-POINT ATTITUDE IN A FULL STALL WITH THE FUSELAGE STRAIGHT DOWN THE RUNWAY. THE TOUCH DOWN WAS RIGHT AT THE END OF THE THRESHOLD AND BEGINNING OF THE RUNWAY.  THE LANDING WAS HARDER THAN USUAL, AIRCRAFT DID NOT BOUNCE AND CONTINUED STRAIGHT DOWN THE RUNWAY FOR ABOUT 500 FEET.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN BEGAN AN UN-COMMANDED SLOW TURN TO THE RIGHT.  I APPLIED HEAVY LEFT BRAKING AND LEFT RUDDER WITH NO EFFECT.  THE TURN CONTINUED TO THE POINT WHERE IT ENTERED A CLASSIC GROUND LOOP WITH FUSELAGE MAKING A REVERSAL OF LESS THAN 180 DEGREES.  THE SIDE LOAD BROKE THE LEFT LANDING GEAR OFF AND THE LEFT WING SETTLED TO THE GROUND AND THE PROP HIT THE ASPHALT.  THE TAILWHEEL DID NOT BREAK OFF.

## 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 GAA17CA469](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA469), Aug 2, 2017: Air Tractor AT 402 (N38HT), San Angelo, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions.

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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