# NTSB CEN21LA223: Air Tractor AT-502A, N887LA, Clayton, LA, May 18, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 18, 2021, 13:25 local (18:25 UTC) - Place: Clayton, LA - Coordinates: 31.801121, -91.586945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8011&lon=-91.5869&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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, TSB Canada, Pratt & Whitney Canada - NTSB case key (mKey): 103103 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA223 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103103/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103103 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA223 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of airplane control resulting in an aerodynamic stall while executing a steep turnaround during an aerial application flight. ## 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-502A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390306), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=0390306), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0390306), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis On the day of the accident, the pilot had already completed several aerial application flights and was in the process of spraying product on a target field. Witnesses stated that the airplane had just completed a spray pass and was turning around. During the turn, the airplane pitched up and rolled left into a steep bank. One witness stated that it looked like the pilot, “didn’t pull out of a barrel roll.” The airplane “fell out of the sky” and impacted the ground inverted. Data extracted from the airplane’s GPS failed to record the last 30 seconds of the flight, likely as a result of a recording latency. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not revealed any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot failing to maintain airplane control while maneuvering in the turn at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. Although toxicology testing detected diphenhydramine, a sedating antihistamine, in the pilot’s urine, operational evidence of any impairment is inconclusive. Therefore, whether the pilot’s use of diphenhydramine contributed to the accident could not be determined from the available evidence. ## Factual narrative On May 18, 2021, about 1325 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502A airplane, N887LA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Clayton, Louisiana. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The operator stated that the pilot had already completed several aerial application flights and was in the process of spraying product on a field when the accident happened. Witnesses stated that the airplane had just completed a spray pass and was in the process of turning around. During the turn, the airplane pitched up and rolled left into a steep bank so that the wings were almost upside down. One witness stated that it looked like the pilot, “didn’t pull out of a barrel roll.” The airplane “fell out of the sky” and impacted the ground inverted oriented on a southeast heading. Data was extracted from the airplane’s SatLoc GPS, which revealed most of the accident flight, except for the last approximately 30 seconds, which was likely not recorded due to the unit’s recording latency. The data showed that the airplane completed several spray passes over the target field and did not reveal any anomalies. Toxicology testing performed by the FAA’s Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected diphenhydramine at 205 nanograms per milliliter in chest cavity blood. Diphenhydramine was also present in urine. Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine available over-the-counter in multiple cold and allergy products as well as sleep aids. Diphenhydramine can cause cognitive and psychomotor slowing and drowsiness. It typically carries a warning that it may impair performance of tasks like driving and operating heavy machinery. The Federal Aviation Administration states that pilots should not fly within 60 hours of using diphenhydramine, to allow time for it to be eliminated from their systems. A postaccident examination revealed ground impact marks from the outline of the wings, as the airplane impacted the ground in a wings-level, inverted attitude. The wing fuel tanks were found breached, and a significant amount of fuel was noted in the dirt under the airplane. The propeller blades were twisted and bent and partially buried in the ground. Flight control continuity was established to the extent possible by the condition of the wreckage; all observed separations were consistent with overstress. The flaps were extended 25.4°, which corresponded to near full extension. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N887LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N887LA-2022-03-30), registration cancelled 2022-03-30, S/N 502A-2887, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502A - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502a) (registry code 0390306) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60ag) (registry code 52101, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502A-2887 - Year built: 2013 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60AG 1020 horsepower turbo shaft - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Ferriday Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Ferriday Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Farriday, LA - Destination: Farriday, LA - Airport: n/a - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 22; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KHEZ, 18 nm away - METAR: KHEZ 181856Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM BKN020 OVC044 24/21 A3000 RMK AO2 SLP159 T02440206 ## 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 20210518002009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210518002009A), May 18, 2021: Air Tractor Inc AT-502A, Clayton, LA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On Tuesday, may 18, 2021, at approximately 1925Z (1425L) an agricultural aircraft was observed conducting spray activities approximately [privacy data… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103103. 13.9 MB in all. - Investigation summary (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13674667&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Summary%20CEN21LA223-Rel.pdf - Reports from parties to the investigation - air tractor (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12504357&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=AT%20Airframe%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - GPS device - specialist's factual report (item 3, PDF, 12 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12523109&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=GPS%20Device%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 to GPS device - specialist's factual report -- tabular data (item 4, CSV, 236 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12523225&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20GPS%20Device%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report%20--%20Tabular%20Data-Rel.csv - Photos (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12901190&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Autopsy memo (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12559187&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Autopsy%20Memo%20for%20Record-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 7, PDF, 1 page, 284 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12559205&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Toxicology%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13708880&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=-%20Air%20Tractor%20Party%20Form_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.