# NTSB CEN21LA005: Air Tractor AT402, N4540F, Egypt, AR, October 2, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 2, 2020, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Egypt, AR - Coordinates: 35.936, -90.9278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9360&lon=-90.9278&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102087 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102087/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102087 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA005 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree limb during a low-level aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/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: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was flying an aerial application pass to a rice field when the right wing struck a tree limb at the edge of the field. After the collision, the airplane was “descending slowly and trying to roll.” He executed a forced landing to an open field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4540F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4540F), registered now, S/N 402-0784, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT402 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402) (registry code 0390205) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402-0784 - Year built: 1990 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-28 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Over The Top Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Over The Top Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 11, 2020, 28 hours before - Departed: 9AR9, Cash, AR - Airport: 9AR9, Over the Top Aviation - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 2, 2019; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,090 total, 560 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 274 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: JBR, 14 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 20201002012259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201002012259A), Oct 2, 2020: Air Tractor Inc AT-402, Egypt, AR, Substantial damage. On October 2, 2020 an Air tractor AT-402, N4540F, was conducting spraying operations in the area of Egypt, AR. While edging a rice field with defol 5 the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 2, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102087. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11469585&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Rpt%20--%20CEN20LA005_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11469406&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN21LA005-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.