# NTSB ANC20CA052: Air Tractor AT802, N779DA, Unalakleet, AK, June 1, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 31, 2020, 16:17 local (Jun 1, 2020, 00:17 UTC) - Place: Unalakleet, AK - Coordinates: 63.906112, -160.25444 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=63.9061&lon=-160.2544&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101365 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC20CA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101365/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101365 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC20CA052 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance during the departure, which resulted in a collision with terrain.. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibious scooper air tanker airplane, reported that while preforming aerial firefighting operations, he heard ground firefighters express concern over the radio about their equipment "being too close to the fire line." In response, the pilot landed at a small lake to fill the airplane's water hopper tank with water to drop on the fire. During the departure from the lake, the airplane’s left float struck a "small hill" that was about 20 ft above ground level. The pilot proceeded to fly the airplane to a nearby airport and made an uneventful landing. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N779DA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N779DA), registered now, S/N 802A-0779, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT802 (FIREBOSS) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-67f) (registry code 52290, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802A-0779 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 205.4 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F 1600 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Firefighting, Part 91 - Operator: Aero Spray Inc, doing business as Dauntless Air - Registered owner: Aero Spray Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 19, 2020 - Departed: GAL, Galena, AK - Destination: GAL, Galena, AK - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Data recorder, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2020; seat: single; flight hours: 11,000 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 10,700 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 15 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Altimeter: 29.45 inHg - Observed at: PAUN, 15 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200531011809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200531011809A), May 31, 2020: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, AK, Substantial damage. Firefighting scoop operation from lake approximately 15 NM east of unalakleet, AK. Accident flight was 12th scoop operation of the day. Pilot executed his… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101365. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 774 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 224 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486070&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Pictures (item 3, .PDF, 230 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.