# NTSB CEN13LA353: Air Tractor AT-802A, N8522S, Minot, ND, June 16, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 16, 2013, 07:20 local (12:20 UTC) - Place: Minot, ND - Coordinates: 48.390277, -101.499443 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3903&lon=-101.4994&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO Fargo - NTSB case key (mKey): 87217 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA353 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87217/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87217 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA353 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during an aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the aerial application flight, the pilot pulled the airplane up over trees and felt a small bump. The pilot stated that he believed that the airplane had struck branches. The airplane flew straight for a couple of seconds and then started rolling left. The pilot applied full right aileron and full right rudder, but the airplane continued to roll left. The airplane then struck the ground in a nose-low attitude. Examination of accident site and airplane wreckage revealed that the left wing had struck a tree. The examination did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he was well rested and that the flying shift was during his normal working hours. ## Factual narrative On June 16, 2013, about 0720 central daylight time, an Air Tractor 802A, N8522S, registered to AGviation Inc., of Minot, North Dakota, sustained substantial damage after a collision with trees and the ground, during an aerial application flight. The pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed in the vicinity and no flight plan was filed. The aerial application flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The flight originated from the Minot International Airport (MOT) about 0700.The pilot reported that he took off about 0700 to apply the first load of the day. He commenced spraying the field utilizing east to west passes along the south end of the field. On the accident pass, the pilot pulled up over trees and felt a small bump, surmising that the airplane had struck branches. The airplane flew straight for a second or two and then started rolling to the left. The pilot applied full right aileron and full right rudder, but the airplane continued to roll to the left. The airplane then struck the ground nose low, about 100 degrees angle of bank to the left. The airplane sustained structural damage to the fuselage and both wings. An FAA inspector who examined the accident site and airplane wreckage reported that no mechanical anomalies were discovered that could have contributed to the accident. The pilot reported that he was well rested and the flying shift was during his normal working hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8522S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8522S), registered now, S/N 802A-0161, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802A (14000) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802A-0161 - Airframe hours: 4458 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PT6-42 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Pioneer Agviation Inc - Registered owner: Pioneer Agviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 2013 - Departed: MOT, Minot, ND - Destination: MOT, Minot, ND - Airport: MOT, Minot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 6, 2013; seat: center; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 15,187 total, 1,471 in this make and model, 15,187 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: MOT, 10 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 20130616012269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130616012269A), Jun 16, 2013: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, Minot, ND, Destroyed. On 6/16/13 at approx 0720CST a AT-802A Air tractor [privacy data omitted], pioneer agviation, inc., struck a tree with the left wing in a field where [privacy… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 3, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87217. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409752&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409754&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.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.