# NTSB DFW08TA224: Air Tractor AT-802A, N189LA, Meeker, CO, August 27, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Final report - Date: August 27, 2008, 15:01 local (21:01 UTC) - Place: Meeker, CO - Coordinates: 40.049999, -107.889167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0500&lon=-107.8892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68869 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW08TA224 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68869/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08TA224 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to continue an aerial application following an uncommanded opening of the cabin door in flight, and his subsequent failure to maintain control of the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); 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](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/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-802A, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390308), [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. - [Maneuvering: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While making a pass to drop fire retardant, the airplane's left cockpit access door opened when the airplane experienced an area of turbulence. Although the pilot was unable to close the door, he elected to attempt another pass to jettison his remaining retardant before returning back to the airport. During the pass the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted the ground in a right wing low attitude. The airplane came to a rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane's door latch revealed no pre-impact anomalies. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 2008, about 1501 mountain daylight time, a single turbo-prop powered Air Tractor AT-802A airplane, N189LA, was substantially damaged during impact with terrain following a loss of control near Meeker, Colorado. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries. The airplane was registered to Minuteman Aerial Application Inc., of Missoula, Montana, and operated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), United States Department of the Interior, under an exclusive public-use firefighting contract. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the fire suppression flight. The local flight originated from the Craig-Moffat Airport (CAG), Craig, Colorado at 1429. According to the pilot, while making a pass to drop fire retardant, the airplane's left cockpit access door opened when the airplane experienced an area of turbulence. Following a "sequence of aerodynamic evaluations...including banks, slips and skids," the pilot configured the airplane for an "approach to landing stall." Once the airplane was in an "incipient stall" he attempted to close the door to no avail. The pilot elected to attempt another pass to jettison his remaining retardant before returning back to the airport. During the pass the airplane departed controlled flight and impacted the ground in a right wing low attitude. Flying debris impacted and damaged a fire engine while missing five fire fighters by approximately 152-feet. The airplane came to a rest in an upright position and the pilot was able to exit the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane's door latch revealed no pre-impact anomalies. Photographs provided to the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) revealed that the airplane's wings, engine, and left horizontal stabilizer were separated from the fuselage during the accident. At 1453, the weather observing system at Meeker Colorado, located 21 nautical miles northwest from the site of the accident, reported wind from 300 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 26 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clear of clouds, temperature 84 degrees, dew point 30 degrees, and a barometric pressure setting of 30.06 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N189LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N189LA-2008-10-16), registration cancelled 2008-10-16, S/N 802A-0189 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-802A - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802A-0189 - Airframe hours: 550 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67AG 1350 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Public use - Operator: Minuteman Aerial Application Inc - Registered owner: Minuteman Aerial Application Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2008 - Departed: CAG, CRAIG, CO - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2007; seat: single; flight hours: 3,222 total, 753 in this make and model, 3,156 as pilot in command, 92 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 13 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: EEO, 21 nm away ## 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 20080827845029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080827845029A), Aug 27, 2008: Airtrc AT802A, Meeker, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was participating in firefighting effort. The aircraft appeared to be making a second pass when a hatch on the left side of the aircraft came… 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.