# Accident 20241218019229A: Air Tractor Inc AT-504, Big Cypress, FL, December 18, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 18, 2024, 15:18 local time
- Place: Big Cypress, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.3377° N, 81.0168° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.3377&lon=-81.0168&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8516V (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-504
- Reported engine: P&W PT6A SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,132 total, 2,800 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA079) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241218019229A

## Narrative

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

AT AN ALTITUDE OF APPROX. 9000 FEET, PILOT SAID HE FELT A "VIOLENT YAW" TO THE LEFT BUT STATED HE NEVER HEARD ANY

ASSOCIATED NOISES. HE PUSHED THE RIGHT RUDDER PEDAL FULL FORWARD WITH NO AFFECT AND THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN A LEFT TURN, CIRCLING AND SLIGHTLY NOSE DOWN. HE THEN STATED THAT HE APPLIED RIGHT AILERON TO ATTEMPT TO COUNTER THE LEFT TURN WHICH HELPED BUT NOT ENOUGH. HE DECIDED TO RETARD THE ENGINE THROTTLE TO IDLE, WHICH HE SAID MADE THE SPINNING

WORSE, SO HE ADVANCED IT BACK TO MID THROTTLE. HE STATED THAT THE COMBINATION OF THE RIGHT AILERON POSITION AND

ENGINE POWER SETTING GAVE HIM A "BEST CASE SITUATION" BUT WAS STILL UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRPLANE. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED LEFT TURN TO 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 ERA25LA079](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA079), Dec 18, 2024: Air Tractor AT504 (N8516V), Big Cypress, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to depart with cargo outside of the designated baggage compartment, which resulted in the cargo interfering with the rudder control system.

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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