# NTSB CEN23LA241: Air Tractor AT-401B, N6106U, Holyoke, CO, June 15, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 15, 2023, 08:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Holyoke, CO - Coordinates: 40.568688, -102.27216 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5687&lon=-102.2722&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: 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): 192378 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA241 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192378/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192378 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA241 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-401B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390207), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=0390207), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [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-401B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390207), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390207), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390207), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=0390207), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The operator reported that, while landing during a solo instructional flight, the airplane touched down in a three-point attitude and veered left during the roll out. The airplane ground looped to the left and exited the left side of the runway. During the ground loop, the right wing struck the ground. The airplane came to rest about 25 ft from the edge of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6106U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6106U), registered now, S/N 401B-0976, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-401B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-401B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401b) (registry code 0390207) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 401B-0976 - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 8063.3 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Steggs Flying Service, Inc, doing business as Steggs Flying Service, Inc - Registered owner: Steggs Flying Service, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 2023 - Departed: HEQ, Holyoke, CO - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: HEQ, Holyoke, runway 32, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 15, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 385 total, 3 in this make and model, 321 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: KHEQ - METAR: KHEQ 151455Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM -RA SCT014 SCT024 SCT032 19/13 A2984 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 20230615008099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230615008099A), Jun 15, 2023: Air Tractor Inc AT-401B, Holyoke, CO, Substantial damage. Upon landing on runway 32 Holyoke municipal airport, (heq), Holyoke, CO, [privacy data omitted] an Air tractor AT-401B ground looped. There were no injuries.… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192378. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16051224&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Final%20NTSB%20Report%20401_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16051851&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA241%20photos_Redacted-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.