# NTSB ERA20CA231: Air Tractor AT502, N42190, South Bay, FL, June 29, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 29, 2020, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: South Bay, FL - Coordinates: 26.472778, -80.556945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4728&lon=-80.5569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - 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: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101507 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA231 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101507/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101507 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA231 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of airplane control during the approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with vegetation and terrain. ## 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: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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. - [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) - [Approach: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was performing an aerial application flight, and after distributing dry fertilizer he entered a downwind approach to land on a dirt road next to the field he was spraying. During a 180° turn to line up with the road, the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall. He added power, levelled the wings, deployed the flaps, and recovered from the stall; however, the airplane was too low and its landing gear struck sugar cane in the field. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground, and the fuselage and empennage were substantially damaged. The operator reported there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42190](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N42190), registered now, S/N 502B-2705 (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 Canada PT6A-34AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34ag) (registry code 52251, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-2705 - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 4374 - Engines: Pratt Whitney PT6-34 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 21, 2020, 146 hours before - Departed: X10, Belle Glade, FL - Destination: X10, Belle Glade, FL - Airport: X10, Belle Glade State Muni - Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2020; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,106 total, 1,639 in this make and model, 3,013 as pilot in command, 211 in the last 90 days, 72 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 8 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: BCT, 25 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 20200629007739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200629007739A), Jun 29, 2020: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, South Bay, FL, Substantial damage. Part 137 operation under [privacy data omitted], FAA certificate number [privacy data omitted]. Air tractor AT-502B, serial number 502B-2705, registration… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 22, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101507. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9941083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Pilot_Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident_Incident%20Report%20-%202_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 182 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9941856&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Pilot%20statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9941929&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20-%20ERA20CA231-Rel.pdf - Wreckage release (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9943608&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Signed%20Wreckage%20Release%20N42190_Redacted-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.