# NTSB CEN21LA318: Air Tractor AT-602, N602RE, Nappanee, IN, July 6, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 6, 2021, 19:54 local (23:54 UTC)
- Place: Nappanee, IN
- Coordinates: 41.4427, -85.9941 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4427&lon=-85.9941&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; Grand Rapids FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103479
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA318
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103479/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103479
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA318

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the tower during low-level agricultural operations.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Flight crew (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/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-602, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tower/antenna (incl guy wires)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/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-602, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot stated that while spraying for mosquitos, the airplane’s right wing struck an unmarked tower. The pilot flew the airplane back to the departure airport, during which the right wing stalled when the airplane slowed for landing. The airplane then ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing skin during the in-flight collision with the tower. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N602RE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N602RE), registered now, S/N 602-1200, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602
- 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: 602-1200
- Year built: 2011
- Airframe hours: 2927
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Agriflight Services Inc.
- Registered owner: Deby Ag Leasing Lp
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 14, 2021
- Departed: II74, Wakarusa, IN
- Destination: II74, Wakarusa, IN
- Airport: C03
- Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 11, 2021; seat: single; flight hours: 11,428 total, 606 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: SBN, 10 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 20210706009029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210706009029A), Jul 6, 2021: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Nappanee, IN, Substantial damage. On July 6, 2021 at 2000 eastern daylight time, an ar tractor model AT-602 aircraft, registered as N602RE [privacy data omitted] received substantial damage to…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 5, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103479. 4.6 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12729268&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Damage photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 205 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12729313&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Photo-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.

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