# NTSB CEN17LA027: Air Tractor AT 502B, N8525G, Hereford, TX, October 27, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 27, 2016, 12:35 local (17:35 UTC) - Place: Hereford, TX - Coordinates: 34.787498, -102.388053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7875&lon=-102.3881&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 20, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Lubbock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94298 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94298/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94298 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA027 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a cotton crop while maneuvering during agricultural application operations, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. ## 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) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause) ## Analysis The airline transport pilot was conducting an agricultural application flight. The pilot stated that, while making a right turn and flying the airplane in a circular swath to "trim-up" on the outside edges of a center-pivot irrigated field, the right wingtip "got too far into the cotton crop" and that he subsequently lost airplane control. The airplane then impacted terrain, cartwheeled, and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, both wing spars, and all flight control surfaces. The accident is consistent with the pilot failing to maintain clearance from terrain while maneuvering during agricultural application operations. ## Factual narrative On October 27, 2016, about 1235 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, single-engine airplane, N8525G, was substantially damaged after impacting terrain while maneuvering near Hereford, Texas. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Wilbur Ellis Air, LLC; Huron, South Dakota, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed and a visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had not been filed. The pilot reported that that he was in a right turn, flying a circular swath to "trim-up" on the outside edges of a center-pivot irrigated cotton field, when the right wingtip "got too far into the cotton crop" causing him to lose control. The airplane impacted terrain and cartwheeled, but came to rest upright. The propeller and engine were impact separated and there was substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, both wing spars, and all flight control surfaces. There was a fuel leak at the scene but there was no postimpact fire. At 1235 the KHRX Automated Surface Observation System at Hereford, Texas, about 5 miles northeast from the accident location, reported wind from 180 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky clear of clouds, temperature 24 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 10 degrees C, with an altimeter setting of 30.33 inches of mercury. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8525G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8525G-2018-09-13), registration cancelled 2018-09-13, S/N 502B-2575, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-2575 - Year built: 2005 - Engines: PWC PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Krech Dakota Airspray Inc, doing business as Wilbur Ellis Air LLC - Registered owner: Wilbur Ellis Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: HRX, HEREFORD, TX - Destination: Hereford, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 37,857 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.32 inHg - Observed at: KHRX, 5 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 20161027017229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161027017229A), Oct 27, 2016: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Hereford, TX, Destroyed. On October 27, 2016, at 1235 CDT, the pilot was conducting aerial spraying on a cotton field approximately 1 mile south of Hereford, Texas. The pilot reported… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94298. 2.5 MB in all. - Maps (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maps-Master.PDF - Weather - METAR Report (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20-%20METAR%20Report-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 3, .PDF, 213 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477098&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Memo for Record - Investigation Reconstruction (item 4, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477099&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo%20for%20Record%20-%20Investigation%20Reconstruction-Master.PDF - Photos (item 5, .PDF, 3 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477100&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.