# Accident 20200531011809A: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, AK, May 31, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 31, 2020, 16:20 local time
- Place: AK
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: SXKG
- Location: 63.9061° N, 160.2544° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.9061&lon=-160.2544&mi=10
- Aircraft: N779DA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N779DA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-802A (registry code 0390308, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67F (registry code 52290, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-67f) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC20CA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA052) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200531011809A

## Narrative

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

FIREFIGHTING SCOOP OPERATION FROM LAKE APPROXIMATELY 15 NM EAST OF UNALAKLEET, AK. ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS 12TH SCOOP OPERATION OF THE DAY. PILOT EXECUTED HIS APPROACH AND LANDING AS HE HAD THE PREVIOUS 11 IN THE LAST HOUR. AFTER LANDING AND SCOOPING, PILOT ROLLED A FLOAT TO GET AIRBORNE THEN ESTABLISHED CLIMB ATTITUDE. AIRCRAFT STUCK TOP FEW INCHES OF AN APPROXIMATELY 20' HILL AFTER TAKEOFF FROM LAKE. AIRCRAFT HAD ENOUGH ENERGY TO CONTINUE FLYING. PILOT RETURNED FOR UNEVENTFUL LANDING.

## 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 ANC20CA052](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA052), Jun 1, 2020: Air Tractor AT802 (N779DA), Unalakleet, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance during the departure, which resulted in a collision with terrain..

## Other reports on N779DA (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20210909013069I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210909013069I), Sep 9, 2021: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A (N779DA), Cliffdell, WA, Minor damage. While scooping water from the lake for firefighting, the aircraft float struck a submerged stump, damaging the float.

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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