- Date
- June 15, 2017, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place
- Pocahontas, AR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N915AJAir Tractor AT 802
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 7, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA/ FSDO
- FAA report
- 20170615008339A
- Case key
- 95379
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain lateral/bank control during the initial climb in turbulent conditions.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The agricultural application pilot reported that, during the initial climb and as soon as the airplane "broke ground," he turned left and subsequently encountered turbulence that caused the left wing to "dip." He added that he applied full right aileron and rudder but that the airplane continued to sink and turn left. Subsequently, the left wing impacted terrain, the airplane cartwheeled, and a postcrash fire ensued. The fuselage, empennage, and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station, 12 nautical miles south of the accident site, reported, about the time of the accident, calm wind, clear skies, temperature 84°F (29°C), and dew point 64°F (18°C).
Factual narrative
The aerial application pilot reported that, during the initial climb as soon as the airplane "broke ground," he turned left and subsequently encountered turbulence that caused the left wing to "dip." He added that, he applied full right aileron and rudder, but the airplane continued to sink and turn left. Subsequently, the left wing impacted terrain, the airplane cartwheeled, and a post-crash fire ensued. The fuselage, empennage, and both wings sustained substantial damage during the impact and post-crash fire. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station, 12 nautical miles south, about the time of the accident, reported the wind as calm, clear skies, temperature 84°F (29°C), and dewpoint 64°F (18°C).
Aircraft
- Registration
- N915AJ
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT 802 (A)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 802A-0566
- Built
- 2014
- Airframe hours
- 1,045
- Engine
- P&W Canada PT6A-65AG, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- C&C Flying Service Inc.
- Registered owner
- C&C Flying Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · April 25, 2017
- Departed
- Pocahontas, AR
- Destination
- Pocahontas, AR
- Airport
- runway S, 3,000 × 75 ft, dirt
- Equipment
- None
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 48
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 25, 2016
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 5-point
- Flight hours
- 11,313 total · 4,217 in this make and model · 11,278 as pilot in command · 225 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.93 inHg
- Observed at
- KARG, 12 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 647 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.