# NTSB CHI07CA227: Air Tractor AT-602, N628JP, Prophetstown, IL, July 23, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 23, 2007, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Prophetstown, IL - Coordinates: 41.666667, -90.083335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6667&lon=-90.0833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-DuPage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67133 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA227 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67133/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA227 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to accurately monitor fuel consumption during flight, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation/exhaustion. A contributing factor was the cornfield encountered during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid - starvation/exhaustion (cause) - planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that about 6 miles from the intended destination, the engine started to lose power and he was no longer able to maintain altitude. He setup for a forced landing on a road. He reported that during the approach he maneuvered to avoid a ditch adjacent to the road. The "controls got sloppy and the airplane subsequently stalled about 15 [feet] from the road." The right wing "dipped" and impacted a cornfield, causing the airplane to nose over. The pilot's statement noted he had departed with full fuel (216 gallons) and the flight's duration was approximately 2-1/2 hours. He expected to burn 68 - 70 gallons per hour (gph) at 162 knots. He stated that at the time of the loss of engine power, the fuel gauges indicated that one-quarter remained in the left fuel tank and one-eighth remained in the right fuel tank. He reported that after the engine initially lost power it would regain partial power for short periods of time. He added that he did not suspect an engine problem and believed the loss of engine power was due to fuel starvation. The airplane manufacturer stated that total fuel capacity for the accident airplane make and model was 216 gallons, and that the maximum useable fuel was 210 gallons. At normal cruise, the expected fuel consumption would be approximately 70 to 75 gph, at 155 knots. At high cruise, fuel consumption would be expected to be approximately 83 - 84 gph. ## Factual narrative The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that about 6 miles from the intended destination, the engine started to lose power and he was no longer able to maintain altitude. He setup for a forced landing on a road. He reported that during the approach he maneuvered to avoid a ditch adjacent to the road. The "controls got sloppy and the airplane subsequently stalled about 15 [feet] from the road." The right wing "dipped" and impacted a cornfield, causing the airplane to nose over. The pilot's statement noted he had departed with full fuel (216 gallons) and the flight's duration was approximately 2-1/2 hours. He expected to burn 68 - 70 gallons per hour (gph) at 162 knots. He stated that at the time of the loss of engine power, the fuel gauges indicated that one-quarter remained in the left fuel tank and one-eighth remained in the right fuel tank. He reported that after the engine initially lost power it would regain partial power for short periods of time. He added that he did not suspect an engine problem and believed the loss of engine power was due to fuel starvation. The airplane manufacturer stated that total fuel capacity for the accident airplane make and model was 216 gallons, and that the maximum useable fuel was 210 gallons. At normal cruise, the expected fuel consumption would be approximately 70 to 75 gph, at 155 knots. At high cruise, fuel consumption would be expected to be approximately 83 - 84 gph. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N628JP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N628JP-2018-03-06), registration cancelled 2018-03-06, S/N 602-0564, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor 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: 602-0564 - Airframe hours: 3358 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-60AG 1150 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2007 - Departed: PVT, Newport, AR - Destination: PVT, Flinton, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2006; seat: single; flight hours: 3,729 total, 0 in this make and model, 3,301 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 54 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: SQI ## 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 20070723022519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070723022519A), Jul 23, 2007: Airtrc AT602, Prophetstown, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted], sole occupant aboard air tractor 602, N628JP, was enroute from newport, ar to rock falls, IL when the engine lost power… ## Other investigations on N628JP (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN13LA263](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA263), May 5, 2013: Air Tractor AT-602 (N628JP), Udall, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate flight planning, which resulted in a wire strike. 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.