# NTSB GAA17CA454: Air Tractor AT 802, N802DL, Trumann, AR, July 25, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 25, 2017, 06:15 local (11:15 UTC) - Place: Trumann, AR - Coordinates: 35.619167, -90.568885 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6192&lon=-90.5689&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 27, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95712 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA454 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95712/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95712 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA454 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper decision to continue flight in deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in collision with the ground. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Ceiling/visibility/precip: low ceiling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 190 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03035010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he departed his private field for an agricultural application flight and flew northwest about 5 miles. He added that, as he approached the field that he had intended to spray, the visibility rapidly decreased. He began a 180° turn, but the visibility decreased to zero, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. 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 system about 13 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about 11 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 180° at 5 knots, and the cloud celling was overcast at 300 ft. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he departed his private field for an aerial application flight, and flew northwest about 5 miles. He added that, as he approached the field that he had intended to spray, the visibility rapidly decreased. He began a 180o turn but the visibility decreased to zero, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. 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 system about 13 nautical miles from the accident site reported, about 11 minutes prior to the accident, the wind was from 180° at 5 knots, the cloud celling was overcast at 300 ft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N802DL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N802DL-2017-12-29), registration cancelled 2017-12-29, S/N 802A-0679, built 2016 (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: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65ag) (registry code 52109, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802A-0679 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 358 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AG 1280 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 11, 2017 - Departed: Private Field, AR - Destination: Private Field, AR - Equipment: ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 20, 2015; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,900 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 4,900 as pilot in command, 238 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Lowest ceiling: 300 ft overcast - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KJBR, 13 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 20170725010049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170725010049A), Jul 25, 2017: Air Tractor AT-802, Trumann, AR, Destroyed. On July 15, 2017 five miles south, southwest of Trumann Arkansas, N802DL (AT-802) crashed in a bean field, in the fog. Investigation revealed aircraft was… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 1, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95712. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460438&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 805 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.