# NTSB CEN21LA240: Air Tractor AT602, N602NY, Trumann, AR, May 27, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 27, 2021, 18:06 local (23:06 UTC) - Place: Trumann, AR - Coordinates: 35.60145, -90.59085 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6014&lon=-90.5909&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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: Federal Aviation Administration - Little Rock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103176 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103176/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103176 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA240 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to review the weather conditions before the flight, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff due to a sudden change in wind direction and speed associated with an approaching thunderstorm. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md) - [Wind: sudden wind shift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034010/cases.md) - [Convective weather: thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 100 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03033010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the agricultural airplane was on takeoff roll when a sudden wind gust caused the airplane to swerve left. He was unable to regain directional control of the airplane before it departed the left side of the runway, through a drainage ditch, and into a cornfield. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, aft fuselage, empennage, and the engine mounts. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Earlier in the day, the pilot had reviewed the local forecast on the National Weather Service website, which stated that there was a chance of thunderstorms later in the afternoon. He also reviewed the weather conditions periodically throughout the day using a weather application on his mobile phone/tablet, but the last time he had reviewed the weather application was about 15 minutes before the accident, at which time he did not observe any thunderstorms in the local area. The pilot did not review any weather data before the accident flight. According to weather radar data, a significant thunderstorm was approaching the airstrip from the southwest in the minutes preceding the accident and was over the airstrip about 5 minutes after the accident. The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during the takeoff was likely due to a sudden change in wind direction and speed associated with the approaching thunderstorm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N602NY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N602NY-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 602-1245 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT602 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65ag) (registry code 52109, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 602-1245 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 1651 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AG 1295 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: PMZ Flying Service - Registered owner: Freppon Farm Equipment LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 10, 2021 - Airport: PVT, McCormick, runway 18, 1,800 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 30, 2020; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,312 total, 662 in this make and model, 6,186 as pilot in command, 127 in the last 90 days, 55 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: JBR, 14 nm away - METAR: KJBR 272253Z AUTO 18006KT 10SM SCT055 30/20 A2987 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT W-NE RAB02E15 SLP110 P0000 T03000200$ ## 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 20210527002939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210527002939A), May 27, 2021: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Trumann, AR, Substantial damage. On 27 may 2021 at approximately 1806 CST, an Air tractor 602; serial number 602-1245; registered as N602NY; crashed while taking off from a remote airstrip in… ## Other investigations on N602NY (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 CEN20LA269](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA269), Jul 3, 2020: Air Tractor AT 602 (N602NY), Weldon, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power during cruise flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103176. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 957 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12699240&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of conversation (david freppon) (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12699343&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(David%20Freppon)-Rel.pdf - Weather radar images ( 7 total ) (item 3, PDF, 7 pages, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12699510&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Weather%20Radar%20Images-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12699681&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Photos-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.