# NTSB GAA19CA535: Air Tractor AT 602, N602SS, Turkey, TX, September 8, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 7, 2019, 19:30 local (Sep 8, 2019, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Turkey, TX - Coordinates: 34.400001, -100.887222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4000&lon=-100.8872&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 100227 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA535 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100227/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100227 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA535 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a low pass, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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-602, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: cG/weight distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061040/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: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting a low-altitude application flight for a gender reveal celebration with one passenger onboard the single-seat airplane. While maneuvering, he dumped about 350 gallons of pink water. The airplane got too slow, aerodynamically stalled, impacted terrain, and then came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and empennage. 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 reported, that while maneuvering at a low altitude in an aerial applicator airplane, he dumped about 350 gallons of pink water for a gender reveal. The airplane "got too slow", aerodynamically stalled, impacted terrain, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the accident occurred during a low pass for a gender reveal celebration. He added that there were two persons on board the single seat airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N602SS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N602SS-2022-09-03), registration cancelled 2022-09-03, S/N 602-1222, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT 602 (No Series) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (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: 602-1222 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 2000 - Engines: P&W Canda PT6A-65AG turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Horan Spraying Llc - Registered owner: Horan Spraying Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Flight plan: Unknown - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 17, 2019; seat: single; flight hours: 14,000 total, 8,000 in this make and model, 150 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KCDS, 30 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 20190907014609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190907014609A), Sep 7, 2019: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Turkey, TX, Destroyed. On September 7, 2019, at approximately 19:25 CST, N602SS, a single place (seat), Air tractor, AT-602 impacted the ground approximately one half mile west of… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 7, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100227. 871 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 347 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477851&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477852&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477853&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 388 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40477854&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.