# Accident 20210804011539A: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Mer Rouge, LA, August 4, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 4, 2021, 20:20 local time
- Place: Mer Rouge, LA
- Airport: Arkla Flyers Inc
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: SLYG
- Location: 32.7731° N, 91.7839° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7731&lon=-91.7839&mi=10
- Aircraft: N455LA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N455LA-2024-08-11) (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-65AG (registry code 52109, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65ag) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 10,000 total, 7,500 in this make and model, 350 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA357) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210804011539A

## Narrative

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

- ON 8/4/2021, N455LA, AN AIRTRACTOR, MODEL AT-602 WITH SERIAL NUMBER 602-1311 WAS INVOLVED IN A NON-FATAL ACCIDENT.

- THE PILOT IN COMMAND WAS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, COMMERCIAL PILOT WITH LICENSE ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

- THE AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF FROM ARKLA FLYERS AIR STRIP AROUND 1500 LOCAL TIME.

- ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^

- THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE ENGINE TROUBLE,  AND WOULD NOT ACHIEVE RECOMMENDED POWER FOR TAKE OFF WHILE,  LOST ALTITUDE AND CRASHED INTO SOY BEAN CROP APPROXIMATELY 85 YARDS FROM THE AIR STRIP.

- AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND PILOT SURVIVED WITH MINOR INJURIES.

- NO OTHER PASSENGERS WERE ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CEN21LA357](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA357), Aug 4, 2021: Air Tractor AT-602 (N455LA), Mer Rouge, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot and ground personnel’s miscalculation of available fuel.

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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