# NTSB GAA17CA342: Air Tractor AT 802, N915AJ, Pocahontas, AR, June 15, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 15, 2017, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Pocahontas, AR - Coordinates: 36.221668, -90.834724 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2217&lon=-90.8347&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 7, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95379 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA342 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95379/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95379 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA342 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain lateral/bank control during the initial climb in turbulent conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-802A, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 92 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N915AJ-2018-02-02), registration cancelled 2018-02-02, S/N 802A-0566, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 802 (A) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [U/A Canada PT6A-65AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/u-a-canada-pt6a-65ag) (registry code 61609, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802A-0566 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 1045 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; 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 ## 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 20170615008339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170615008339A), Jun 15, 2017: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, Pocahontas, AR, Substantial damage. On June 12, 2017, at approximately 13:00 central time, an Air tractor AT-802A, registered as N915AJ to c&c flying service took off from a private dirt runway… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95379. 647 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 458 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455180&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455181&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.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.