# NTSB CEN22LA408: Air Tractor AT-602, N5951B, Murray, NE, August 25, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 25, 2022, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Murray, NE · Wet landing strip near aerial application operations. - Coordinates: 40.930583, -95.999927 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9306&lon=-95.9999&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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): 105862 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA408 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105862/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105862 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA408 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during landing resulting in an impact with crop and a subsequent ground-loop. Contributing was the wet turf airstrip. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that there had been light rain in the morning prior to the flight and when he took off from the turf airstrip to conduct an aerial application flight, the turf was wet from the rain. Following applying fertilizer to a nearby cornfield, the pilot returned to the airstrip to land. After the main landing gear and tailwheel touched down and as the pilot applied brakes to steer, the airplane skidded, and the right wing struck cornstalks in the adjacent field. The airplane then ground-looped and rolled over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing and aileron. The pilot reported that there were no other preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the brake system. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5951B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5951B-2024-02-03), registration cancelled 2024-02-03, S/N 602-1209, 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-60AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60ag) (registry code 52101, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 602-1209 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 3563 - Engines: P&W PT6A-60AG 1050 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Murdoch Aerial Spraying LLC - Registered owner: Murdoch Aerial Spraying LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 2, 2022, 349 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: NE82, Nolte Farms Airport, runway 22, 2,500 × 75 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,607 total, 1,450 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 70 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 71 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: PMV, 4 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 20220825013779A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220825013779A), Aug 25, 2022: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Murray, NE, Substantial damage. On August 25, 2022 at approximately 1030 local time [privacy data omitted], an Air tractor model 602, serial number 602-1209 returned for landing at Nolte… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105862. 14.0 MB in all. - NTSB form 6120 pilot operator report CEN22LA408 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 13.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14534178&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Pilot%20Operator%20Report%20CEN22LA408_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN22LA408 (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 738 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14519957&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN22LA408-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.