# NTSB CEN21FA270: Air Tractor 502B, N6088K, Paragould, AR, June 15, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: June 15, 2021, 16:32 local (21:32 UTC) - Place: Paragould, AR · farm field. - Coordinates: 36.103922, -90.7146 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1039&lon=-90.7146&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Air Tractor, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21FA270 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103270/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103270 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA270 ## Probable cause An inflight loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain during an aerial application flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness reported that he observed the airplane about 1 mile away flying directly toward him. He stated that it appeared to be straight and level, about treetop height. Without warning, he observed a small puff of white smoke; the airplane immediately nosed down and impacted the ground. A post-crash fire ensued. The witness did not hear any abnormal noises with the airplane or engine, nor did he observe any wildlife in the area. He stated that “everything appeared normal until it wasn’t.” The airplane came to rest upright on the edge of a field. The nose of the airplane was embedded into the dirt at about a 45° angle and only one propeller blade was visible. The forward fuselage, cockpit, inboard right and left wings, and the aft fuselage exhibited extensive thermal damage. A postaccident airframe and engine examination did not reveal any anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operations. The engine displayed signatures of rotation, and control continuity was established throughout. Another pilot reported that, on the day of the accident, he was working with the accident pilot from the same grass strip. Throughout the day they dispersed about 28 loads of fertilizer; the accident pilot did not report any anomalies with the airplane during these flights. ## Factual narrative On June 15, 2021, at 1632 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT 502B airplane, N6088K, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Paragould, Arkansas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. A witness reported that he observed the airplane about one mile away flying directly toward him. It appeared to be straight and level, about treetop height. Without warning, he observed a small puff of white smoke; the airplane immediately nosed down, impacted the ground and a post-crash fire ensued. The witness did not hear any abnormal noises with the airplane or engine, nor did he observe any wildlife in the area. He stated, “everything appeared normal until it wasn’t." A second pilot reported that, on the day of the accident, he was working with the accident pilot from the same grass strip. Throughout the day they dispersed about 28 loads of fertilizer; during which, the accident pilot did not report any anomalies with the airplane. Shortly before the accident, the accident airplane was loaded with full fuel and fertilizer. The accident pilot was actively spraying a field when the second pilot departed the area to refill fertilizer. When the second pilot returned, he observed the airplane burning on the ground about 0.5 miles east of the field it was spraying. The airplane came to rest upright on the edge of a field; the dirt was moderately hard and mostly dry. The nose of the airplane was embedded into the dirt at about a 45° angle and only one propeller blade was visible. The forward fuselage, cockpit, inboard right and left wings, and the aft fuselage exhibited extensive thermal damage. The cabin area was destroyed by fire exposing the underlying airframe structure. The instruments and instrument panel were not present. Both wings remained attached at the wing spar. Flight control continuity was established to the control surfaces through multiple fractures and thermal damage. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6088K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6088K-2023-03-08), registration cancelled 2023-03-08, S/N 502B-0281, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor 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-0281 - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 11858 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PT6 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Business, Part 137 - Operator: Scott Flying Service - Registered owner: Wallin Agricultural Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 6, 2021 - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 1,500 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KJBR, 17 nm away - METAR: KJBR 152153Z AUTO 01007KT 10SM CLR 33/12 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP159 T03330122 $ ## 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 20210615008549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210615008549A), Jun 15, 2021: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Beech Grove, AR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On 15 June, 2021 at approximately 1630 pm CST, N6088K, serial number 501B-0281, after refueling and reloading with fertilizer near Beech Grove, Arkansas… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 3, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103270. 13.0 MB in all. - On scene observations (item 1, PDF, 21 pages, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14235974&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=On%20Scene%20Notes-Rel.pdf - Google earth map of accident area (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 177 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14235984&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=google%20earth%20map-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - witness statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 117 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13630218&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20WITNESS-Rel.pdf - Statement from second pilot (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13630562&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=second%20pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Materials laboratory factual report 21-067 (with 6 embedded photos) (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 6 photos, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12715833&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Materials%20Laboratory%20Factual%20Report%2021-067-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 752 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13630438&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=party%20form%20AT_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of memorandum - autopsy (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14234227&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Memorandum%20auotpsy-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 525 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13630858&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=tox_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 540 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14011381&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20N6088K%20signed_Redacted-Rel.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.