FTW02LA238

NTSB accident investigation · Air Tractor AT-502B · Rosenburg, TX · August 21, 2002

Accident · FatalLimited investigationFinal report
Date
August 20, 2002, 20:15 local (Aug 21, 2002, 01:15 UTC)
Place
Rosenburg, TX
Injuries
1 fatal, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 fatal
Damage
Minor damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N628LAAir Tractor AT-502B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Status
Completed · report April 1, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration
FAA report
20020820024309A
Case key
55536

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

the failure of the pedestrian to perform a visual lookout while walking on the runway which resulted in a on-ground collision with the airplane.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water collision with objectLanding - roll
Visual lookout - not performedOther personCause
Object - other person

Analysis

The pilot completed the final spray run for the day and contacted the operator's office via radio that he intended to land on runway 31. Runway 13/31 is a 3,500-foot long and 200-foot wide grass and asphalt airstrip, and the asphalt section is 3,500-feet long and 35-feet wide. While concentrating on the runway markers, which were visible by the airplane landing lights, the pilot executed a three-point landing on the grass section of the runway. During the landing rollout, the pilot felt a "thud," and then saw an object come out from under the right wing. The pedestrian who was struck by the right wing of the airplane, occasionally took walks during the morning and evening hours on the taxiway of the airstrip.

Factual narrative

On August 20, 2002, approximately 2015 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B single-engine agricultural airplane, N628LA, was not damaged when the right wing struck a pedestrian on the grass airstrip during landing rollout at the Lane Airpark Airport, Rosenburg, Texas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured, and the pedestrian sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Lane Aviation, Inc., of Rosenburg. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight departed the Lane Airpark Airport approximately 1900.

According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that he completed the final spray run for the day and contacted the Lane Aviation office via radio that he intended to land on runway 31. Runway 13/31 is a 3,500-foot long and 200-foot wide grass and asphalt airstrip, and the asphalt section is 3,500-feet long and 35-feet wide. While concentrating on the runway markers, which were visible by the airplane landing lights, the pilot executed a three-point landing on the grass section of the runway. During the landing rollout, the pilot felt a "thud," and then saw an object come out from under the right wing. The pilot reported that the pedestrian was wearing "dark clothing" at the time of the accident.

According to the operator, the pedestrian who was struck by the right wing of the airplane, occasionally took walks during the morning and evening hours on the taxiway of the airstrip.

According to the U.S. Naval Observatory, sunset for Richmond, Texas, which is located approximately 3 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, occurred at 1959.

Aircraft

Registration
N628LA
Reported as
Air Tractor AT-502B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
502B-0628
Airframe hours
698
Engine
Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6-34AG, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage
Minor damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Registered owner
Lane Aviation Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Departed
T54 · Rosenberg, TX
Destination
T54
Airport
T54 · Lane Airpark, runway 31, 3,500 × 200 ft, asphalt

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
35
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Last flight review
April 24, 2002
Seat
Center
Flight hours
5,500 total · 2,500 in this make and model · 5,450 as pilot in command · 700 in the last 90 days · 200 in the last 30 days · 15 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Dusk
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
82 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.