# NTSB ERA09LA431: Air Tractor AT502, N60237, Minter City, MS, July 31, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 31, 2009, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Minter City, MS
- Coordinates: 33.75, -90.300003 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7500&lon=-90.3000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74415
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA431
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74415/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74415
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA431

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude, resulting in an aerodynamic stall.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [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-502B, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he was on his fourth aerial application of the day, with a load of 430 gallons of fungicide. He departed to the northeast and turned west. He said everything was normal until he got closer to the pecan orchard that he was planning to spray. As he got closer to the trees, the airplane began to "mush" and started shaking. He said he "hit" the dump lever, but not hard enough to activate it. The airplane then descended and impacted the trees. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions, nor did the pilot report any. The pilot stated that the engine was operating continuously, but he was not able to clear the pecan trees.

## Factual narrative

On July 31, 2009, about 1100 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, N60237, was substantially damaged following a loss of control shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip in Minter City, Mississippi. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. The certificated commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137, agriculture flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he was on his forth load of the day, and had taken on 430 gallons of fungicide. He departed to the northeast and turned west. He said everything was normal until he got closer to a pecan orchard. As he got closer to trees, the airplane began to "mush" and started shaking. He said he "hit" the dump lever but not hard enough to activate it. The next thing he remembered was being on the tailgate of a truck. The pilot’s brother stated that he had spoken with the pilot in the hospital and he asked him if he had a loss of engine power. The pilot told him that he did not. He stated that he had taken off to the northeast and turned to the west. He was not able to clear the pecan trees. The airplane struck three pecan trees and spun around before coming to rest on the ground facing northeast again. Examination of the wreckage by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration found the engine separated from the airframe and the propeller attached to the engine. The propeller blades were observed bent and curled. The wings were damage by tree impacts along the leading edge. The cockpit was observed crushed and the empennage had separated near the vertical stabilizer. Examination of the engine and airframe found no evidence that would have prevented normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N60237](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60237-2009-10-13), registration cancelled 2009-10-13, S/N 502B-0322, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT502 (B)
- 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-0322
- Airframe hours: 6895
- Engines: PRATT AND WHITNEY PT6A 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: William Jeff Jones
- Registered owner: Robby R. Jones
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2009
- Departed: NONE, Minter City, MS
- Destination: NONE, Minter City, MS
- Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip, runway 03, 2,000 × 75 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 1, 2008; seat: single; flight hours: 15,426 total, 14,745 in this make and model, 355 in the last 90 days, 110 in the last 30 days, 11 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: HKS, 1 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 20090731015839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090731015839A), Jul 31, 2009: Airtrc AT502B, Minter City, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) On take off, aircraft became airborne, began turning, and did not have enough altitude to clear the pecan orchard. Aircraft crashed into 3 pecan trees.…

## Other investigations on N60237 (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 ATL95LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA168), Sep 13, 1995: Air Tractor 502B (N60237), Minter City, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: Inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot. Factors relating to the accident were: the excessive gross weight of the airplane and the high outside air temperature, which would have…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74415. 2.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 500 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Inspectors Statement (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325681&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Inspectors%20Statement-Master.PDF
- FAA Digital Photo 1, Wreckage (item 3, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40325682&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo%201,%20Wreckage-Master.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.