- Date
- July 12, 2024, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Decatur, IL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N528JCAir Tractor AT602
- Defining event
- Landing-landing roll: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA - Springfield FSDO
- FAA report
- 20240712012449A
- Case key
- 194687
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll due to the malfunction of the tail wheel locking mechanism.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that the tailwheel became unlocked on landing. The airplane drifted to the left, exited the runway, and ground looped which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A post-accident examination revealed that the tailwheel lock pin was not engaged, although the cockpit handle was in the locked position. The cable was continuous from the cockpit handle to the locking mechanism, however, multiple attempts to move the tailwheel locking pin by manipulating the handle were unsuccessful. The pin became unstuck when it was assisted into position using a striking tool. Subsequent attempts to lock the tailwheel from the cockpit were successful and the mechanism functioned normally.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N528JC
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT602
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 602-05287
- Built
- 1999
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-65AG, 1,050 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning · Part 137
- Operator
- Farm Air, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Farm Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- IS08 · Summum, IL
- Destination
- DEC · Decatur, IL
- Airport
- DEC · Decatur, runway 18/36, 5,298 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- ADS-B
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 78
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- December 8, 2023
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 22,000 total · 305 in this make and model · 17,250 as pilot in command · 67 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.10 inHg
- Observed at
- KDEC
- METAR
- KDEC 121854Z 11004KT 10SM FEW039 29/22 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP188 T02940217
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 8, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.3 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.