# NTSB CEN22LA359: Air Tractor AT-502B, N41850, Melville, LA, August 3, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 3, 2022, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Melville, LA - Coordinates: 30.693, -91.744 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6930&lon=-91.7440&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - 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): 105659 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA359 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105659/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105659 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA359 ## Probable cause The pilot improperly monitored the operating environment which resulted in a collision with a tree located in the middle of a field. ## 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-502B, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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-502B, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was applying insecticide to a soybean field when he heard a loud bang. Shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted terrain. The pilot, who momentarily lost consciousness, realized the loud bang was caused when the airplane impacted a tree located in the middle of the field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and engine mount. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41850](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N41850-2023-04-20), registration cancelled 2023-04-20, S/N 502B-2703 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34-series) (registry code 52250, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-2703 - Airframe hours: 6296 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Aerial Crop Care Inc - Registered owner: Aerial Crop Care Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 20, 2022 - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 13,000 total, 6,500 in this make and model, 13,000 as pilot in command, 315 in the last 90 days, 95 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20220803007949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220803007949A), Aug 3, 2022: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Melville, LA, Destroyed. Making fourth pass applying insecticide to soybead field. Heard loud bang, when aircraft came to a stop. Exited the aircraft as it was on fire. I then realized… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105659. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14323117&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14323028&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. --- 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.