# NTSB ERA20CA253: Air Tractor AT502, N2038Q, Washington, NC, July 15, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 15, 2020, 07:15 local (11:15 UTC) - Place: Washington, NC - Coordinates: 35.561111, -76.231941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5611&lon=-76.2319&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - 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): 101614 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101614/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101614 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA253 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional during landing on a wet grass runway. ## 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: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: wet surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: 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 The pilot reported that after the completion of an aerial application flight, during the landing roll on a wet grass runway, the airplane slid off the left side of the runway, where the left wing subsequently impacted corn stalks, which "further drug the aircraft into the corn and ditch." The fuselage, wings, and empennage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2038Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2038Q), registered now, S/N 502B-2878, built 2013 (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-2878 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 2455.4 - Engines: P&W Canada PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Tim Whitfield Aviation Inc. - Registered owner: Tim Whitfield Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 8, 2020 - Departed: 23NR, Washington, NC - Destination: 23NR, Washington, NC - Airport: 23NR, Whitfield's East, runway 26, 3,300 × 23 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 2, 2019; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 15,100 total, 2,500 in this make and model, 14,800 as pilot in command, 162 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: 7W6, 14 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 20200715015439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200715015439A), Jul 15, 2020: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Washington, NC, Substantial damage. The PIC was landing at a non-chartered private grass strip that was very wet from the rain the night before. The PIC stated that he touched downed in the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 3, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101614. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 2, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486641&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.