# NTSB LAX06CA142: Air Tractor 502A, N1539X, Stanfield, AZ, April 12, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 12, 2006, 14:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Stanfield, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.878887, -111.957778
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8789&lon=-111.9578&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 63510
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX06CA142
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63510/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA142

## Probable cause

the pilot's inadequate compensation for the wind conditions and failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - gusts
  - weather condition - crosswind
  - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - not corrected, pilot in command
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven
  - terrain condition - high vegetation

## Analysis

A single engine aerial application aircraft modified as a fire tanker veered off the gravel runway during its landing roll and sustained substantial damage to the right wing.  The pilot said he was traveling about 40 mph with the tail on the ground during the landing roll and was unable to maintain directional control due to adverse wind conditions.  The airplane veered off the left side of the runway despite the pilot's application of full right rudder and right brake, and encountered uneven terrain and high vegetation.  The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions.

## Factual narrative

A single engine aerial application aircraft modified as a fire tanker veered off the gravel runway during its landing roll and sustained substantial damage to the right wing.  The pilot, the sole occupant, said he was traveling about 40 mph with the tail on the ground during the landing roll and was unable to maintain directional control due to adverse wind conditions.  The airplane veered off the left side of the runway despite the pilot's application of full right rudder and right brake, and encountered uneven terrain and high vegetation.  The pilot stated that the airplane and engine had no mechanical failures or malfunctions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1539X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1539X), registered now, S/N 502A-0166, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor 502A
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502a) (registry code 0390306) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 502A0166
- Airframe hours: 4029
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-45R 1100 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: M And M Air Service Of Beaumont Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2006, 18 hours before
- Departed: Stanfield, AZ
- Destination: Stanfield, AZ
- Airport: NONE, Custom Farm Service, runway 24, 3,000 × 60 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 23,000 total, 10 in this make and model, 22,000 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 200 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F

## 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 20060412006059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060412006059A), Apr 12, 2006: Airtrc AT502A, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was attempting to land in gusty wind conditions and lost control. The aircraft exited the runway and collided with terrain, causing substantial…

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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