# Accident 20200616007649A: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Atmore, AL, June 16, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 16, 2020, 08:45 local time
- Place: Atmore, AL
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: RZKG
- Location: 31.1014° N, 87.5389° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1014&lon=-87.5389&mi=10
- Aircraft: N879JA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N879JA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-502B (registry code 0390307, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (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-502B
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-34AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 7,116 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA20LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA217) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200616007649A

## Narrative

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

AN AERIAL APPLICATION TURBINE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING FROM HIS SECOND AND FINAL LOAD OF THE DAY. THE PILOT FLEW LOW LEVEL OVER HIS RESIDENCE WHEN THE AIRCRAFT PULLED STRAIGHT UP THEN PERFORMED WHAT APPEARED TO BE A "HAMMER HEAD" TURN MANEUVER.  HOWEVER, AS THE AIRCRAFT DOVE DOWN, THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RECOVER AND STRUCK THE GROUND.

## 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 ERA20LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA217), Jun 16, 2020: Air Tractor AT502 (N879JA), Atmore, AL, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, spin, and loss of control.

## Other reports on N879JA (1)

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

- [Accident 20150510006669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150510006669A), May 10, 2015: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B (N879JA), Dighton, KS, Substantial damage. On departure after making an immediate turn to the west, the pilot reduced power and the engine subsequently continued to decrease in torque. The pilot…

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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