# NTSB CEN21LA313: Air Tractor AT802, N949TM, Newell, IA, July 11, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 11, 2021, 07:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Newell, IA · 42.634578 x -94.981444 - Coordinates: 42.634578, -94.981444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6346&lon=-94.9814&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: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 103453 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103453/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103453 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA313 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from crops during an agricultural flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-802A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390308), [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-802A, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390308), [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-802A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was in the process of spraying a corn field and climbed to avoid trees that were in his path. When he descended back toward the field, the airplane settled more than expected and the landing gear and bottom of the airplane hit the corn. The pilot was unable to climb the airplane out of the corn and the left wing hit the ground. The airplane rotated about 180°, bounced, then impacted the ground on the right wing and engine, before it came to rest upright. The pilot was not injured and he stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mounts, both wings, and empennage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N949TM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N949TM-2023-05-06), registration cancelled 2023-05-06, S/N 802A-0888, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT802 (A) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-67ag) (registry code 52211, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802A-0888 - Year built: 2021 - Airframe hours: 40.3 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67AG 1220 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Midwest Custom Ag Aviation - Registered owner: Diversified Applications - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: POH, Pocahontas, IA - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 27; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 22, 2021; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,864.6 total, 348 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KSLB, 12 nm away - METAR: KSLB 111255Z AUTO 01010KT 10SM CLR 17/17 A3006 RMK AO2 ## 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 20210711004289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210711004289A), Jul 11, 2021: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, Newell, IA, Substantial damage. The pilot descended into the corn during a spray application swath. The pilot was unable to make the aircraft climb out of the corn due to the drag of the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 31, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103453. 9.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 8.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12504207&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12503689&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-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.