# NTSB GAA19CA163: Air Tractor AT 400A, N400DQ, Parma, ID, March 11, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 11, 2019, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Parma, ID - Coordinates: 43.778888, -116.938613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7789&lon=-116.9386&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): 99095 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99095/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99095 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA163 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in variable wind conditions, which resulted in the right wing impacting muddy terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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-400A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390203), [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-400A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390203), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-400A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=0390203), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-400A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0390203), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-400A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390203), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-400A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390203), [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 landing roll, the tail "lifted back up" due to a "wind gust" and that the airplane then veered left, spun, exited the runway, and the right wing impacted muddy terrain. 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. The pilot reported the wind was light and variable at 5 knots. An automated weather observation station located about 15 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about 30 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 150° at 4 knots and that, about 30 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 120° at 5 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 30. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, the tail "lifted back up" due to a "wind gust", the airplane veered left, spun, exited the runway and the right wing impacted the muddy terrain. 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. The pilot reported the wind was light and variable at 5 knots. An automated weather observation station, located about 15 nautical miles from the accident site, about 30 minutes prior to the accident, reported the wind was from 150° at 4 knots and about 30 minutes after the accident, reported the wind was from 120° at 5 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 30. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N400DQ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N400DQ), registered now, S/N 301-0343 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT 400A (No Series) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-400A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400a) (registry code 0390203) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-15AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-15ag) (registry code 52246, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 301-0343 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-15AG 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Oregon Trail Air Service Llc - Registered owner: Oregon Trail Air Service Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 10, 2018 - Departed: 50S, PARMA, ID - Destination: 50S, PARMA, ID - Airport: 50S, Parma, runway 30, 2,700 × 50 ft, ice - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 2, 2019; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 9,033.7 total, 2,109.6 in this make and model, 8,992.7 as pilot in command, 27.3 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KONO, 15 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 20190311001189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190311001189A), Mar 11, 2019: Air Tractor Inc AT-400A, Parma, ID, Substantial damage. The pilot had just completed a agricultural dispensing operation and was landing at his home base in Parma, ID. Winds at the time were 4 knots and variable.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99095. 938 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 705 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475009&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475010&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 3, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475011&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. --- 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.