# NTSB CEN25LA140: Air Tractor AT-802A, N41687, Cash, AR, March 28, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 28, 2025, 07:55 local (12:55 UTC) - Place: Cash, AR - Coordinates: 35.791977, -90.935896 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7920&lon=-90.9359&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: 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 - Little Rock, AR FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199933 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199933/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199933 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA140 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an excavator during low-altitude aerial application operations. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/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-802A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis The aerial application airplane arrived at the field to apply product, and the pilot visually observed an unoccupied excavator parked near the field. The pilot decided to perform a spray pass up to the excavator and then climb over it and continue the spray pass. When the pilot approached the excavator, he misjudged its height, and the left tire impacted the boom arm. After the airplane struck the boom arm, it impacted the ground and slid about 300 yards which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The airplane came to rest upright, and the pilot was able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N41687](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N41687), registered now, S/N 802A-0309, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802A - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65ag) (registry code 52109, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0309 - Year built: 2008 - Airframe hours: 5921 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AG 1220 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Over The Top Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 2024 - Departed: 9AR9, Cash, AR - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 26, 2023; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,542 total, 1,307 in this make and model, 3,476 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KARG, 20 nm away - METAR: METAR KARG 281256Z AUTO 12004KT 10SM CLR 15/13 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP192 T01500128= ## 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 20250328002839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250328002839A), Mar 28, 2025: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, Cash, AR, Destroyed. On March 28, 2025, at approximately 7:55 local time, an Air tractor struck the top of a mini-excavator boom that was located in a field they were spraying. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 29, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199933. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18595821&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA140%20-%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 636 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18595734&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA140%20-%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.