# NTSB MIA05LA060: Air Tractor AT-502B, N9114W, Avon, MS, February 18, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 18, 2005, 07:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Avon, MS - Coordinates: 33.2, -91.166664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2000&lon=-91.1667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61048 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05LA060 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61048/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA060 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude, resulting in an inadvertent stall/mush, and impact with terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - altitude - low, pilot in command - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis the airplane impacted terrain while conducting aerial application operations. The pilot stated that he began a turn to the left, followed by another turn to the right, when all of a sudden, the airplane started sinking rapidly. He said he pushed the throttle and propeller controls all the way forward, but it did not do any good. The airplane continued to sink rapidly, and it impacted the ground, sliding about 75 yards and impacting a grain bin, before coming to rest. In April, 2005, a Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigator along with representatives from Pratt & Whitney, Canada, examined the accident airplane's engine and accessories at Pratt & Whitney Canada, Quebec, Canada. The examination revealed information consistent with the engine generating power at impact, and no anomalies were noted to exist. ## Factual narrative On February 18, 2005, about 0730 central standard time, an Air Tractor AT-502B, N9114W, registered to and operated by Longwood Flying Service as a Title 14 CFR part 137 agricultural application flight crashed into a field in Avon, Mississippi, while conducting aerial application operations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot received no injuries but the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Avon, Mississippi, the same day, about 0700. The pilot stated to the NTSB it was his first flight of the day, and was spraying a wheat field. He said he had about 275 to 300 gallons of spray, and about 225 gallons of fuel onboard the airplane, and had made about four or five passes. On the last pass, he said that as he flew the airplane to the east over trees, he then commenced a turn to the left, followed by another turn to the right, when all of a sudden, the airplane started sinking rapidly. He said he pushed the throttle and propeller controls all the way forward, but it did not do any good. The airplane continued to sink rapidly, and it impacted the ground, sliding about 75 yards and impacting a grain bin, before coming to rest. On April 20-22, 2005, a Transportation Safety Board of Canada investigator along with representatives from Pratt & Whitney, Canada, examined the accident airplane engine and accessories at Pratt & Whitney Canada, Quebec, Canada. The examination revealed information consistent with the engine generating power at impact, and no anomalies were noted to exist with the engine or accessories. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9114W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9114W-2008-01-28), registration cancelled 2008-01-28, S/N 502B-0558 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-502B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0558 - Airframe hours: 3667 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Longwood Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2004, 568 hours before - Departed: Avon, MS - Airport: Private/Longwood ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 18,124 total, 9,000 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days, 35 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: GWO ## 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 20050218001479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050218001479A), Feb 18, 2005: Airtrc AT502B, Avon, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot, during aerial application, at the end of a pass, the aircraft was in a level attitude. As the pilot began to pull up to make a… 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.