- Date
- August 2, 2017, 18:35 local (23:35 UTC)
- Place
- San Angelo, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N38HTAir Tractor AT 402
- Defining event
- Landing: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 27, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20170802010269A
- Case key
- 95749
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 directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions.
Findings · 3
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 pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, the airplane began an uncommanded slow right turn. He added that he applied left brake and left rudder, but the airplane continued to turn right. Subsequently, the airplane ground looped to the right, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the airport reported that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 90° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 36.
Factual narrative
The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll in crosswind conditions, the airplane began an un-commanded slow turn to the right. He added that he applied left brake and left rudder, but the airplane continued to the right. Subsequently the airplane ground looped to the right, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the airport reported, about 10 minutes after the accident, that the wind was from 90° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 36.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N38HT
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT 402 (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402B-1011
- Airframe hours
- 543.3
- Engine
- Pratt and Whitney PT6A-27, 680 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Public use
- Operator
- Usda/Ars
- Registered owner
- Usda/Ars
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 12, 2016
- Departed
- SJT · San Angelo, TX
- Destination
- SJT · San Angelo, TX
- Airport
- SJT · San Angelo Rgnl/Mathis Field, runway 36, 8,049 × 150 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device
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
- 64
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- June 30, 2016
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 6,960 total · 240 in this make and model · 6,682 as pilot in command · 88 in the last 90 days · 33 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 9,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- KSJT
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 1, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.3 MB 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.