CEN12LA323

NTSB accident investigation · Thrush S2RHG-T65 · Alicia, AR · May 25, 2012

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
May 25, 2012, 06:45 local (11:45 UTC)
Place
Alicia, AR
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N40475Thrush S2RHG-T65N389LAAir Tractor AT-802A
Defining events
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on groundStanding-engine(s) operating: Ground collision
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report September 13, 2012
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA Little Rock FSDO
Case key
83781

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot of the Thrush did not execute a go-around prior to landing, which resulted in excessive ground speed after touchdown, and his subsequent loss of directional control, which resulted in a collision with the Air Tractor.

The pilot of the Thrush did not execute a go-around prior to landing, which resulted in excessive ground speed after touchdown, and his subsequent loss of directional control, which resulted in a collision with the Air Tractor.

Findings · 8

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

N40475 · Thrush S2RHG-T65

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedThrush S2RHG-T65: 1 caseAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: surface speed/brakingAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedThrush S2RHG-T65: 1 caseAll aircraft: 238 casesProbable cause
Action: lack of actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · PilotThrush S2RHG-T65: 1 caseAll aircraft: 792 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · PilotThrush S2RHG-T65: 1 caseAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause

N389LA · Air Tractor AT-802A

Performance/control parameters: directional controlAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAir Tractor AT-802A: 10 casesAll aircraft: 3,958 casesProbable cause
Use of equip/info: aircraft controlPersonnel issues › Task performance · Pilot of other aircraftAir Tractor AT-802A: 17 casesAll aircraft: 9,295 casesProbable cause
Performance/control parameters: surface speed/brakingAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintainedAir Tractor AT-802A: 1 caseAll aircraft: 238 casesProbable cause
Action: lack of actionPersonnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot of other aircraftAir Tractor AT-802A: 2 casesAll aircraft: 792 casesProbable cause

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

N389LA · Air Tractor AT-802A

Analysis

Following a loss of control during the landing roll, a Thrush agricultural airplane collided with an Air Tractor agricultural airplane that was parked about 50 to 75 feet off the runway with its engine operating waiting to takeoff. The pilot of the Thrush reported that the airplane was traveling too fast during touchdown so he attempted a go-around then realized that the engine would not respond quickly enough, and he aborted the go-around. He applied both brakes and put the propeller into reverse; however, the airplane started to veer off the left side of the runway. He applied right rudder and right brake in an attempt to regain directional control but was unsuccessful and hit the Air Tractor. The Thrush pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or system failures of the Thrush.

Following a loss of control during the landing roll, a Thrush agricultural airplane collided with an Air Tractor agricultural airplane that was parked about 50 to 75 feet off the runway with its engine operating waiting to takeoff. The pilot of the Thrush reported that the airplane was traveling too fast during touchdown so he attempted a go-around then realized that the engine would not respond quickly enough, and he aborted the go-around. He applied both brakes and put the propeller into reverse; however, the airplane started to veer off the left side of the runway. He applied right rudder and right brake in an attempt to regain directional control but was unsuccessful and hit the Air Tractor. The Thrush pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or system failures of the Thrush.

Factual narrative

On May 25, 2012, at 0645 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-802A, N389LA, sustained substantial damage when a Thrush S2RHG-T65, N40475, collided with it while it was on a taxiway preparing to depart from a private airstrip near Alicia, Arkansas. The Thrush was in its landing roll when it lost directional control and struck the Air Tractor. Neither pilot was injured. The Air Tractor and Thrush were owned and operated by J and R Flying Service LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 for agricultural operations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plans were filed. The Thrush departed the airstrip at 0630 and was returning to land when it impacted the Air Tractor. The pilot of the Thrush reported that the airplane was traveling too fast during touchdown so he attempted a go-around. He reported that the engine would not “spool back up in time” to make a successful go-around, so he decided to abort the go-around. He applied both brakes and put the propeller into reverse, however, the airplane started to veer off the left side of the runway. He applied right rudder and right brake to regain directional control but was unsuccessful. The Thrush hit the Air Tractor that was about 50 to 75 feet off the runway. The propeller of the Thrush hit the left wing of the Air Tractor, and the Air Tractor’s propeller hit the Thrush’s left wing. The pilot reported that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction or system failure of the Thrush.

On May 25, 2012, at 0645 central daylight time, a Thrush S2RHG-T65, N40475, sustained substantial damage when it collided with an Air Tractor AT-802A, N389LA, after it lost directional control during landing roll at a private airstrip near Alicia, Arkansas. The Thrush impacted the Air Tractor which was on the taxiway preparing to depart from the private airstrip. Neither pilot was injured. The Thrush and the Air Tractor were owned and operated by J and R Flying Service LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 for agricultural operations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plans were filed. The Thrush departed the airstrip at 0630 and was returning to land when it impacted the Air Tractor. The pilot of the Thrush reported that the airplane was traveling too fast during touchdown so he attempted a go-around. He reported that the engine would not “spool back up in time” to make a successful go-around, so he decided to abort the go-around. He applied both brakes and put the propeller into reverse, however, the airplane started to veer off the left side of the runway. He applied right rudder and right brake to regain directional control but was unsuccessful. The Thrush hit the Air Tractor that was about 50 to 75 feet off the runway. The propeller of the Thrush hit the left wing of the Air Tractor, and the Air Tractor’s propeller hit the Thrush’s left wing. The pilot reported that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction or system failure of the Thrush.

Aircraft · 2

Registration
N40475
Reported as
Thrush S2RHG-T65
Category
Airplane
Serial number
T65HG-014
Airframe hours
3,372
Engine
P&W PT6A SER, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Operator
J & R Flying Service LLC
Registered owner
J & R Flying Service LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · April 5, 2012
Departed
Alicia, AR
Destination
Alicia, AR
Airport
Private Airstrip, runway 01, 2,600 × 60 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Registration
N389LA
Reported as
Air Tractor AT-802A
Category
Airplane
Serial number
802A-0389
Airframe hours
410
Engine
P&W Canada PT6A-65AG, 1,300 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Operator
J & R Flying Service LLC
Registered owner
J & R Flying Service LLC
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · January 2, 2012
Departed
Alicia, AR
Destination
Alicia, AR
Airport
Private Airstrip

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot, aircraft N40475
Age
42
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 1
Last flight review
October 10, 2011
Seat
Single
Flight hours
4,400 total · 500 in this make and model · 4,200 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days
Role
Pilot, aircraft N389LA
Age
27
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
January 4, 2012
Seat
Single
Flight hours
2,082 total · 483 in this make and model · 2,047 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 41 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
300° at 11 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
75 °F, dew point 66 °F
Altimeter
29.94 inHg
Observed at
JBR, 17 nm away

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 6, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 2

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.