# NTSB CEN22LA310: Air Tractor AT-502B, N205SK, Wyoming, IL, July 10, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 10, 2022, 18:05 local (23:05 UTC) - Place: Wyoming, IL · 4929 IL-91 Wyoming, IL 61491 - Coordinates: 41.063611, -89.774167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0636&lon=-89.7742&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - 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: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105442 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA310 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105442/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105442 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA310 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, upon landing, the airplane bounced and he elected to go around. He added power and heard the engine spool up. The airplane became airborne again, but at the top of the bounce, the pilot felt the right wing rapidly dip and he applied left aileron to correct it. The right-wing started to rise, but before it leveled off, he heard it contact the corn. The airplane spun to the right and landed in the corn field, resulting in substantial damage to aft fuselage and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N205SK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N205SK-2024-06-20), registration cancelled 2024-06-20, S/N 502B-0628, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0628 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 8676.3 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 10, 2022 - Departed: N/A, Wyoming, IL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N/A, Unnamed Farm Strip, runway N/A, 1,800 × 80 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Heads up display, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; military, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 4, 2021; seat: single; flight hours: 3,695 total, 15 in this make and model, 2,546 as pilot in command, 99 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 14 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 80 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KC75, 18 nm away - METAR: KC75 102321Z AUTO 19004KT 10SM CLR 26/21 A2996 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 20220710008409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220710008409A), Jul 10, 2022: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Wyoming, IL, Substantial damage. Narritive: The pilot landed on a non certified grass runway with a light quartering tailwind. Mature corn crop surrounded close proximity of both sides of the… ## Other investigations on N205SK (2) 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 GAA18CA476](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA476), Jul 30, 2018: Air Tractor AT502 (N205SK), Louise, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and a subsequent loss of directional control. - [NTSB CEN12LA459](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA459), Jul 18, 2012: Air Tractor AT-502B (N205SK), Wisner, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate takeoff planning that did not consider the reduced acceleration due to a rough, turf runway and his use of an improper flap setting, which resulted in a collision with terrain… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105442. 3.7 MB in all. - Photo array (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14334095&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Airplane-Rel-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14335087&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20completed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14320538&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Statement%20from%20the%20pilot-Rel.pdf.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.