# NTSB ERA10CA309: Air Tractor AT-402B, N5085Q, Alcolu, SC, June 10, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 10, 2010, 17:25 local (22:25 UTC) - Place: Alcolu, SC - Coordinates: 33.855556, -80.207221 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8556&lon=-80.2072&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 December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76302 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10CA309 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76302/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76302 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10CA309 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree. Contributing to the accident was the sunglare. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390208), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Light condition: glare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/cases.md?model=0390208), [All aircraft, 109 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036030/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-402B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390208), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390208), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was conducting an aerial application flight over a field. His vision was obstructed by glare from the sun, and he did not see a dead tree in front of the airplane until “it was too late.” The airplane impacted the tree and descended into the field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He further reported about 14,000 hours of total flight experience, which included 4,700 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he was conducting an aerial application flight over a field. His vision was obstructed by glare from the sun, and he did not see a dead tree in front of the airplane until “it was too late.” The airplane impacted the tree and descended into the field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. He further reported about 14,000 hours of total flight experience, which included 4,700 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5085Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5085Q), registered now, S/N 402B-1047, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-402B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402b) (registry code 0390208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402B-1047 - Airframe hours: 3781 - Engines: P&W PT6A SERIES 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Williamsburg Air Service Inc - Registered owner: Williamsburg Air Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: None, Coker Field, SC - Destination: NONE, Coker Field, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 13,995 total, 4,700 in this make and model, 13,500 as pilot in command, 175 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: KCKI, 19 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 20100610035199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100610035199A), Jun 10, 2010: Air Tractor AT-402B, Alcolu, SC, Substantial damage. Approximately 1725 local, [privacy data omitted] was spraying fungicide on a corn field near Alcolu, SC. While spraying, he made a turn, brought the aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76302. 751 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 707 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332321&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record: Phone Interview with Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332174&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%3A%20Phone%20Interview%20with%20Pilot-Redacted.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.