# NTSB FTW04LA166: Air Tractor AT-502B, N60713, Crowley, LA, June 23, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 2004, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Crowley, LA - Coordinates: 30.156944, -92.483612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.1569&lon=-92.4836&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Safety Board of Canada - NTSB case key (mKey): 59485 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59485/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA166 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - water - terrain condition - crop - Nose over, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis The 20,875-hour pilot reported that after takeoff, at an altitude of approximately 75 feet above ground level, the airplane began to "settle," and he elected to make a forced landing in a flooded rice field. During landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. No fuel was observed in either of the wing fuel tanks. No visible evidence of fuel residue was found in the vicinity of the wreckage. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 2004, approximately 1330 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, single-engine, tailwheel-equipped agricultural airplane, N60713, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff from a private airstrip near Crowley, Louisiana. The airplane was registered to and operated by Lewis Flying Service, of Morse, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The 20,875-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that after performing two aerial applications of fertilizer, he returned to the airstrip to fill the hopper with more fertilizer. After loading approximately 2,300 pounds of fertilizer into the hopper, the pilot took off. At an altitude of approximately 75 feet above ground level, the airplane began to "settle," and he elected to make a forced landing in a flooded rice field. During landing, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. An examination of the wreckage by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, revealed structural damage to the right flap, vertical fin, and rudder. The propeller was sheared off at the hub, and the low pressure compressor can was bent 90 degrees. No fuel was observed in either of the wing fuel tanks. No visible evidence of fuel residue was found in the vicinity of the wreckage. At 1253, the automated surface observing system at the Lafayette Regional Airport (LFT), located 25 nautical miles east from the accident site, reported wind from 050 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clouds few at 1,500 feet, temperature 80 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 75 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.06 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60713](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N60713), registered now, S/N 502B0277, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-502B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502-0277 - Airframe hours: 6032.3 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Lewis Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 9, 2004, 57 hours before - Departed: NONE, Crowley, LA - Destination: NONE, Crowley, LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review January 25, 2004; seat: center; flight hours: 20,875 total, 6,200 in this make and model, 20,775 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: LFT, 25 nm away 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.