# NTSB CEN20CA153: Air Tractor AT 602, N653LA, Mamou, LA, April 21, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 21, 2020, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Mamou, LA
- Coordinates: 30.589445, -92.42778
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.5894&lon=-92.4278&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 June 29, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101192
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101192/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101192
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA153

## Probable cause

The airplane's encounter with a sunken area during takeoff from a turf runway, which resulted in the airplane becoming prematurely airborne and impacting a tree and then terrain.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 253 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023000/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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-602, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the turf airstrip had a "sunken area," which created a "ramp." During takeoff, the airplane encountered this portion of the airstrip and became "airborne prematurely." The airplane subsequently settled into ground effect; however, the left wing impacted a small tree near the end of the runway, and the airplane then pitched "downward and left," and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane impacted a field off the end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that the turf airstrip had a "sunken area" which created a "ramp." During takeoff, when the airplane encountered this portion of the airstrip, it became "airborne prematurely." The airplane subsequently settled into ground effect; however, the left wing impacted a small tree near the end of the runway. The collision caused the airplane to pitch "downward and left" and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane came to rest in a muddy rice field off the end of the runway with damage to the wings and fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N653LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N653LA-2021-03-01), registration cancelled 2021-03-01, S/N 602-0653, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT 602 (No Series)
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 602-0653
- Year built: 2002
- Airframe hours: 9550
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60AG 1050 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Central Farmers Cooperative, doing business as Central Farmers Flying Service
- Registered owner: Central Farmers Cooperative
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, April 17, 2020, 10 hours before
- Departed: PVT, Mamou, LA
- Destination: PVT, Mamou, LA
- Airport: N/A, Deculus Satellite Airstrip, runway 18, 3,550 × 70 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 8, 2019; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,700 total, 756 in this make and model, 7,618 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: ACP, 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 20200421008739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200421008739A), Apr 21, 2020: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Mamou, LA, Substantial damage. Aircraft was on takeoff roll with 4000 lbs. Fertilizer on board. Aircraft gear struck a divot in the dirt runway bouncing aircraft Air borne. Aircraft remained…

## Other investigations on N653LA (1)

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.

- [NTSB CEN17LA165](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA165), Apr 21, 2017: Air Tractor AT 602 (N653LA), Vidrine, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because an examination of the engine and a test run did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 19, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101192. 33.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 32.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483782&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 467 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483783&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.

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