# NTSB ERA20LA217: Air Tractor AT502, N879JA, Atmore, AL, June 16, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 16, 2020, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Atmore, AL - Coordinates: 31.101388, -87.538887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.1014&lon=-87.5389&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: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO, Air Tractor Inc., Pratt&Whitney, FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101442 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA217 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101442/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101442 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA217 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, spin, and loss of control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (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) - [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) ## 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-502B, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); 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) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); 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) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: 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's spouse, he departed earlier on the morning of the accident to dispense two small “loads" of aerial application. On his return home, he called and asked her to come outside of their residence to watch the airplane fly over. She said that the airplane flew over the house before making a climb straight up. The airplane then banked to the left, rolled right, descended straight down, and she heard a loud "boom" shortly thereafter. Two witnesses who were fishing on a nearby lake saw the airplane flying below the tree line before it climbed straight up. They stated that the airplane rolled and descended straight down nose-first. They heard a "loud thud" and then silence. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin and loss of control. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 16, 2020, about 0730 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, N879JA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Atmore, Alabama. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. According to the pilot's spouse, he departed earlier on the morning of the accident to dispense two small “loads" of aerial application. On his return home, he called and asked her to come outside of their residence to watch the airplane fly over. She said that the airplane flew over the house before making a climb straight up. The airplane then banked to the left, rolled right, descended straight down, and she heard a loud “boom" shortly thereafter. Two witnesses who were fishing on a nearby lake saw the airplane flying below the tree line before it climbed straight up. They said that the airplane rolled and descended straight down nose-first. They subsequently heard the sound of impact and then silence. The witnesses contacted emergency services and assisted local responders in finding the wreckage. AIRPLANE INFORMATION A review of the airplane’s maintenance records did not reveal any discrepancies that required further review. WRECKAGE INFORMATION A Federal Aviation Administration inspector responded to the accident site with local authorities to document the wreckage. Review of photos revealed that the wreckage was in a heavily wooded area at the base of a tree. Tree branches displayed freshly cut propeller marks and propeller paint transfers. The nose and the engine were buried in the soil at the base of the tree. All flight control surfaces were located at the accident site. Examination of the airframe and engine at the recovery facility did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION According to the autopsy performed by the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences, Mobile, Alabama, the cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma, and the manner of death was accident. Toxicology testing performed by the FAA’s Forensic Services Laboratory identified no evidence of impairing drugs. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N879JA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N879JA), registered now, S/N 502B-2879, 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-2879 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 2338 - Engines: Pratt&Whitney PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2019 - Departed: Atmore, AL - Destination: Atmore, AL - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: center; restraint: 5-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 4,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: NSE, 29 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 20200616007649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200616007649A), Jun 16, 2020: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Atmore, AL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. An aerial application turbine aircraft was returning from his second and final load of the day. The pilot flew low level over his residence when the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N879JA (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 CEN15LA226](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA226), May 10, 2015: Air Tractor AT 502B (N879JA), Dighton, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to follow the Preflight checklist and his inadequate preflight inspection, during which he failed to detect the water contamination of the fuel, which resulted in a partial loss… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 9, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101442. 13.9 MB in all. - Memorandum for record FAA accident discussion (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13399142&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20FAA%20accident%20discussion%20LA217-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13582772&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20LA217_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 3, PDF, 10 pages, 7.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13257335&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MX%20record%20excerpts%20LA217_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination summary (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 235 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13258565&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary%20LA217-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13399538&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Tox%20report%20LA217_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 538 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13258481&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Retention-Release-of-Wreckage-Form%20N879JA_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 7, PDF, 15 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13399425&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA20LA217%20signed%20party%20forms_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.