# NTSB CEN20CA079: Air Tractor AT-504, N970FA, Fort Morgan, CO, February 8, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 8, 2020, 12:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Fort Morgan, CO - Coordinates: 40.335556, -103.804168 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3356&lon=-103.8042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 17, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100930 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100930/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100930 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA079 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in the left main landing gear tire bursting and the tailwheel assembly failing. ## 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-504, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390310), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-504, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390310), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-504, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0390310), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-504, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0390310), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-504, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0390310), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-504, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390310), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-504, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=0390310), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot on the controls in the left seat, the right seat pilot was familiarizing him with the airplane. The airplane bounced during landing on the runway. During the landing roll, the airplane veered left, and he overcorrected to the right, followed by an overcorrection to the left. He applied heavy braking, and the airplane turned 120° to the right. The side load on the left main landing gear tire resulted in it bursting. The wheel rim then dug into the runway, the airplane bounced, the tailwheel assembly failed, and the tail spring steel strut then dug into the soft surface. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the aft fuselage and the empennage. ## Factual narrative Both pilot's onboard the airplane reported that the purpose of the flight was to familiarize the pilot in the left seat with the airplane, of which he was appropriately rated yet had never flown. According to the pilot on the controls in the left seat, the tailwheel-equipped airplane bounced during landing on the asphalt runway. During the landing roll, the airplane veered to the left and he overcorrected to the right, followed by an overcorrection to the left. He applied heavy braking and the airplane turned 120° to the right and exited the right side of the runway. The left main landing gear tire deflated, and the wheel dug into the dirt surface. The airplane bounced, and the tailwheel-assembly failed and dug into the soft surface. The airplane sustained damage to the aft fuselage and the empennage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N970FA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N970FA-2021-04-06), registration cancelled 2021-04-06, S/N 504-4028, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-504 (No Series) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-504](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-504) (registry code 0390310) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34ag) (registry code 52251, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 504-4028 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 1331.8 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT-6-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: CO Fire Aviation - Registered owner: CO Fire Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 2019 - Departed: FMM, Fort Morgan, CO - Destination: FMM, Fort Morgan, CO - Airport: FMM, Fort Morgan Muni, runway 32, 5,731 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 19, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,824 total, 2 in this make and model, 2,726 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days - Flight instructor; age 58; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 15,186 total, 37 in this make and model, 1,500 as pilot in command, 62 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.62 inHg - Observed at: KFMM ## 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 20200208000759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200208000759A), Feb 8, 2020: Air Tractor Inc AT-504, Ft. Morgan, CO, Substantial damage. The pilot lost control of the aircraft on landing. After a small bounce, the aircraft swung to the left. The pilot over corrected to the right and then to the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100930. 3.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481899&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 337 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481900&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.