# NTSB CEN22LA226: Air Tractor AT-802A, N579LA, Weiner, AR, May 27, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 27, 2022, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place: Weiner, AR
- Coordinates: 35.590272, -90.913672
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5903&lon=-90.9137&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: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105188
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA226
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105188/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105188
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA226

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the telephone pole during a low-level aerial application pass.

## Findings

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

- [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)
- [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)
- [Object/animal/substance: pole](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022010/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, while maneuvering through a field at low altitude, the wingtip struck a telephone pole. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain and was destroyed. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane before the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N579LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N579LA-2023-05-29), registration cancelled 2023-05-29, S/N 802A-0579, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802A
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (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: 802A-0579
- Year built: 2014
- Airframe hours: 3130
- Engines: Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG 1295 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Johnson, Cory and Trampas, doing business as Johnson Flying Service
- Registered owner: J&J Air Service LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 10, 2022
- Departed: 8M2, Weiner, AR
- Destination: 8M2, Weiner, AR
- Airport: 8M2, Sally Wofford Airport, runway 17, 2,330 × 160 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: serious; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 12, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 16,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 340° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KM19, 13 nm away
- METAR: KM19 271927Z AUTO 34009KT 10SM FEW028 20/13 A2997 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 20220527005079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220527005079A), May 27, 2022: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, Weiner, AR, Destroyed. 27 May 2022, I received notification from the roc at 1310Z CDT that N579 LA/802 Air tractor had crashed in poinsett county Arkansas and the PIC was being…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105188. 2.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 578 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14062577&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN22LA226%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14097773&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-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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