# NTSB CEN24LA165: Air Tractor AT-502B, N6108L, Olney, TX, April 24, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 24, 2024, 18:52 local (23:52 UTC) - Place: Olney, TX - Coordinates: 33.357638, -98.81684 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3576&lon=-98.8168&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 194150 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA165 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194150/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194150 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA165 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing in gusty wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/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: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was completing a practice flight in an airplane which he had 3 hours of total flight experience. While on short final a gust of wind lifted the right wing, the airplane veered left, and he was unable to maintain control. The airplane landed hard in a field next to the runway and sustained substantial damage to the left and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident the pilot was landing on runway 17. The nearest weather station recorded wind from 120° at 8 knots and gusts to 15 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6108L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6108L), registered now, S/N 502B-0289, built 1995 (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 PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0289 - Year built: 1995 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: L & W Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Airport: ONY, Olney Muni, runway 17/35, 5,101 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: powered-lift; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 10, 2024; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 372.7 total, 3 in this make and model, 345.9 as pilot in command, 25.6 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KRPH, 20 nm away - METAR: KRPH 242355Z AUTO 12008G15KT 100V160 10SM BKN060 25/19 A2998 RMK AO2 T02510191 ## 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 20240424005079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240424005079A), Apr 24, 2024: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Olney, TX, Substantial damage. On April 24, 2024, an Air tractor AT-502N, bearing the registration number [privacy data omitted], operating under 14 CFR part 137 was substantially damaged… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194150. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 938 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17098492&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Correspondence - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17099260&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20-%20Pilot-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17098544&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Docket%20photos-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.