# NTSB MIA95LA229: Air Tractor AT-502, N1529E, Lorida, FL, September 21, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 21, 1995, 12:44 local (16:44 UTC) - Place: Lorida, FL - Coordinates: 27.290554, -81.35997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2906&lon=-81.3600&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report April 1, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 37829 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA95LA229 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/37829/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA229 ## Probable cause MISMANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL BY THE PILOT RESULTING IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION, AND THE PILOT'S POOR DECISION TO FLY OVER WATER EN ROUTE TO THE REFUELING AIRPORT. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Ditching, emergency landing - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - water (contributing factor) ## Analysis BEFORE DEPARTURE AN EMPLOYEE WHO WAS FILLING THE HOPPER WHILE THE ENGINE WAS OPERATING OBSERVED THE FUEL GAUGE IN THE COCKPIT AND NOTED THAT IT INDICATED 1/4. HE ADVISED THE PILOT TO REFUEL AND THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WOULD SPRAY PART OF THE LOAD THEN FLY TO SEBRING TO REFUEL. THE FLIGHT DEPARTED TOWARD THE SPRAY LOCATION SOUTH OF LAKE ISTOKPOGA. A WITNESS IN A BOAT OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE DESCEND INTO THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE WATER AND NOSED OVER COMING TO REST IN ABOUT 5 FEET OF WATER. THE PILOT DID NOT ESCAPE. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE WHILE PARTIALLY SUBMERGED REVEALED THAT THE FOUR PLACE SEAT RESTRAINT WAS UNLATCHED AND THE COCKPIT DOORS WERE OPEN. THE PILOT WAS NOT WEARING A HELMET. ACCORDING TO THE DIVER WHO RECOVERED THE PILOT'S BODY, VISIBILITY BENEATH THE SURFACE WAS POOR. DURING RECOVERY OF THE AIRPLANE THE FUEL TANKS WERE DRAINED USING THE SUMP DRAINS AND ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF FUEL AND WATER WERE RECOVERED. ## Factual narrative On September 21, 1995, about 1244 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor 502, N1529E, registered to and operated by Glades Ag Service, Inc., crashed into Lake Istokpoga near Lorida, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot was fatally injured. The flight originated about 1245 from a private airstrip near Lake Placid, Florida. According to an employee of the operator, while loading the hopper with the engine operating, he observed that the fuel tank gauge in the cockpit indicated 1/4. He advised the pilot to refuel which is normally accomplished at the Sebring Airport, Sebring, Florida. The pilot advised him that he would spray only part of his load then fly to Sebring. The flight departed to spray a sod farm which was located south of Lake Istokpoga. A witness who was in a boat about 1 mile south of the crash site on the north side of the lake, observed the airplane spraying chemical over the lake. He then observed the airplane descend into the water. The airplane was located inverted in about 5 feet of water. Divers who recovered the pilot's body stated that the cockpit doors were open, the pilot's seat restraint was unlatched, and he was not wearing a helmet. According to the sheriff's department investigator, the seat restraint system is a four place, military style type. During recovery of the airplane the fuel tanks were drained using the sump drains and about 2 gallons of fuel and water were recovered. The airplane was taken to a nearby airport for further examination. Examination of the airplane by an FAA airworthiness inspector revealed that the cockpit doors were in the open position with no evidence of failure or malfunction of the latch assemblies. Examination of the fuel system revealed that the header tank which by design holds 1.23 gallons of fuel contained only several drops of water. The airframe fuel filter which by design holds 38 1/2 fluid ounces of fuel was drained and found to contain about 2 tablespoons of fluid which appeared to be a combination of jet fuel and water. The engine fuel pump discharge filter cover was removed and found to be about 1/8 to 1/4 full of jet fuel. No solid or liquid contamination was noted of the fuel drained from the fuel pump. Examination of the flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Post-mortem examination of the pilot was performed by Alexander Melamud, M.D., District Ten Medical Examiner. The cause of death was listed as drowning. The autopsy report indicates five superficial abrasions were located on the lower middle and right aspect of the forehead. Toxicological analysis of specimens of the pilot was performed by the Wuesthoff Memorial Hospital. The results were negative for tested drugs and ethanol. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1529E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1529E), registered now, S/N 502-0161, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-502 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (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: 502-0161 - Airframe hours: 1216 - Engines: P&W PT6A-15AG 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Glades Ag Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 25, 1995, 313 hours before - Departed: NONE, LAKE PLACID, FL - Destination: SEF, SEBRING, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, invalid medical for flight; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10,800 total, 323 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 5 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FPR, 47 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 19950921029689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950921029689A), Sep 21, 1995: Airtrc AT502, Lorida, FL, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Low on fuel at departure to spray a lake. Observed descending into lake. Flipped and sank. Pilot drowned. 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.