# NTSB GAA18CA415: Air Tractor AT 502, N4509S, De Land, IL, July 10, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2018, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: De Land, IL - Coordinates: 40.109722, -88.683052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1097&lon=-88.6831&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97745 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA415 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97745/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97745 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA415 ## Probable cause The pilot’s selection of unsuitable terrain for landing in crosswind conditions, which resulted in the airplane inadvertently becoming airborne and a subsequent hard landing and loss of directional control. ## 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-502, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [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-502, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after an agricultural application flight, during the landing roll in a rain shower and with a crosswind, the tailwheel-equipped airplane hit a "bump" and became airborne. He added that the airplane was slow, drifted left, and touched down hard. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway and ground looped. The pilot reported that he should have landed farther down the runway to avoid the bumps that caused the airplane to become airborne. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation system located about 19 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 260° at 12 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 18. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, after an aerial application flight, during the landing roll in a rain shower and with a crosswind, the tailwheel-equipped airplane hit a "bump" and became airborne. He added that the airplane was slow, drifted left, and touched down hard. Subsequently, the airplane exited the runway and ground looped. The pilot added that, he should have possibly landed further down the runway to avoid the bumps that sent him back into the air. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation system located about 19 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 260° at 12 knots. The pilot landed on runway 18. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4509S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4509S), registered now, S/N 502-0088, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT 502 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502-0088 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 8101 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Olsem Aerial Application Services Llc - Registered owner: Olsem Aerial Application Services Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 25, 2018 - Departed: IL80, De Land, IL - Destination: IL80, De Land, IL - Airport: IL80, Flying Illini, runway 18, 3,430 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 10, 2017; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,135 total, 454 in this make and model, 2,091 as pilot in command, 170 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KDEC, 19 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 20180710004029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180710004029A), Jul 10, 2018: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Deland, IL, Destroyed. PIC stated that he attempted to land following a visible rain shower. The winds created a crosswind scenario at the time of landing. The PIC stated that he… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97745. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467767&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 489 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467768&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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.