# NTSB GAA18CA476: Air Tractor AT502, N205SK, Louise, MS, July 30, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 30, 2018, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Louise, MS
- Coordinates: 33.033054, -90.622779 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0331&lon=-90.6228&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 98018
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA476
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98018/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98018
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA476

## Probable cause

The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and a subsequent loss of directional control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/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-502B, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the fourth landing on a rural runway, the airplane touched down hard, bounced, and veered left. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder; however, the airplane continued left into a field and ground looped to the left. The right wing impacted the ground, and the right main landing gear separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the 4th landing on a rural runway, the airplane touched down hard, bounced, and veered left. The pilot attempted to correct with opposite rudder, however the airplane continued left into a field of about 5 foot tall crops, and ground looped to the left. The right wing impacted the ground and the right landing gear separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N205SK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N205SK-2024-06-20), registration cancelled 2024-06-20, S/N 502B-0628, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT502 (B)
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 502B-0628
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 7827
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 5, 2018
- Departed: PVT, Louise, MS
- Destination: PVT, Louise, MS
- Airport: PVT, Pvt, runway 36, 2,500 × 250 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 1,425 total, 74 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: KGLH, 33 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 20180730018419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180730018419A), Jul 30, 2018: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Louise, MS, Substantial damage. Upon receiving notification of an accident that occurred outside of Louise, MS at a private agricultural runway the ASI was dispatched and arrived at 1330 CDT.…

## Other investigations on N205SK (2)

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.

- [NTSB CEN22LA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA310), Jul 10, 2022: Air Tractor AT-502B (N205SK), Wyoming, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
- [NTSB CEN12LA459](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA459), Jul 18, 2012: Air Tractor AT-502B (N205SK), Wisner, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate takeoff planning that did not consider the reduced acceleration due to a rough, turf runway and his use of an improper flap setting, which resulted in a collision with terrain…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 11, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98018. 969 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 662 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474069&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 201 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474070&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474071&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.

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