# NTSB FTW03LA004: Air Tractor AT-400, N155HF, Marmaduke, AR, October 2, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 2, 2002, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Marmaduke, AR - Coordinates: 35.831943, -90.64611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8319&lon=-90.6461&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55824 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA004 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55824/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA004 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A contributing factor was the towering cumulus in all quadrants. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - thunderstorm,outflow (contributing factor) ## Analysis During the aerial application flight, two fields were being sprayed from east to the west with a set of power lines running north and south between the fields. The pilot would fly the airplane over the power lines and then descend to spray the field. During the accident swath descent to spray the east field, the airplane struck the ground. The pilot and local authorities reported that the winds were "strong" from the southwest. The weather observation facility, located approximately 22 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, reported the wind from 250 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 4,000 feet agl and a broken ceiling at 5,500 feet agl, temperature 31 degrees Celsius, dew point 22 degrees Celsius, an altimeter setting of 30.01 inches of Mercury, and towering cumulus clouds in all quadrants. ## Factual narrative On October 2, 2002, at 1430 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-400, agricultural airplane, N155HF, sustained substantial damage following a loss of control during an aerial application flight near Marmaduke, Arkansas. The airplane was owned and operated by Kuntz Aviation of Carthage, Mississippi, under Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated at an unknown time. The pilot and local authorities reported that the winds were "strong" from the southwest. During the aerial application entry to the cotton field a gust of wind struck the airplane and the airplane struck the ground. Subsequently, the airplane skidded approximately 39 feet, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane skidded an additional 366 feet before coming to rest upright in the cotton field. The empennage separated from the airframe and the left wing was damaged. On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Form (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) the operator reported that two fields were being sprayed from east to the west with a set of power lines running north and south between the fields. The pilot would fly the airplane over the power lines and then descend to spray the field. During the accident swath descent to spray the field, the airplane struck the ground. At 1453, the weather observation facility at Jonesboro, Arkansas, located approximately 22 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, reported the wind from 250 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 4,000 feet agl and a broken ceiling at 5,500 feet agl, temperature 31 degrees Celsius (88 degrees Fahrenheit), dew point 22 degrees Celsius (71 degrees Fahrenheit), and an altimeter setting of 30.01 inches of Mercury. Towering cumulus clouds were reported in all quadrants. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N155HF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N155HF-2015-09-14), registration cancelled 2015-09-14, S/N AT400-0488 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-400 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400) (registry code 0390202) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 0488 - Airframe hours: 6200 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Glenn Kuntz - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 2002, 400 hours before - Departed: Marmaduke, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 11,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: JBR, 22 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 20021002031339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20021002031339A), Oct 2, 2002: Airtrc AT400, Marmaduke, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 2, 2002, at 1937Z, an air tractor AT-400, N155HF, while conducting aerial application of malathion on two cotton fields pulled up and over a… ## Other investigations on N155HF (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 CEN13LA425](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA425), Jul 19, 2013: Air Tractor AT-400 (N155HF), Steward, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the guy wires during an aerial application maneuver. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to identify potential obstructions in the area… 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.