# NTSB WPR11CA023: Air Tractor AT-802, N4247U, Fort Hunter Liggett, CA, October 21, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 21, 2010, 16:47 local (23:47 UTC) - Place: Fort Hunter Liggett, CA - Coordinates: 35.971389, -121.205276 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9714&lon=-121.2053&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 16, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77651 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11CA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77651/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77651 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA023 ## Probable cause The pilot's misjudged glide path, which resulted in a runway undershoot and collision with terrain during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: debris/dirt/foreign object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022055/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: glide](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062027): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062027/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370); cases with it: [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a short-field landing demonstration on a dirt airstrip. During the landing approach, the tailwheel impacted a berm of dirt located at the approach end of the airstrip. The nose pitched down and the propeller struck the runway, followed by the main landing gear. The airplane then bounced back into the air and the pilot added engine power. The airplane skidded to the left, resulting in the right main landing gear and tailwheel separating during the impact sequence. The pilot indicated that he should have landed farther down the airstrip. He reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot was conducting a short-field landing demonstration on a dirt airstrip. During the landing approach, the tailwheel impacted a berm of dirt located at the approach end of the airstrip. The nose pitched down and the propeller struck the runway, followed by the main landing gear. The airplane then bounced back into the air, the pilot added power, and the airplane skidded to the left. The right main landing gear and tailwheel separated during the impact sequence. The pilot indicated that he should have landed farther down the airstrip. No mechanical anomalies were reported. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4247U (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802-4001 - Airframe hours: 187 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PT6A-67F 1600 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Air Tractor Inc - Registered owner: Air Tractor Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 7, 2010 - Departed: PVT, Fort Hunter Liggett, CA - Destination: PVT, Fort Hunter Liggett, CA - Airport: PVT, Schoonover Strip (Private), runway 09, 6,000 × 50 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2010; seat: front; flight hours: 25,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 24,000 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: PRB, 35 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 20101021050599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101021050599A), Oct 21, 2010: Air Tractor AT-802, Fort Hunter Lig, CA, Substantial damage. Accident aircraft an Air Tractor A-802 N4247U departed Schoonover Landing Strip, fort Hunter liggett at approximately 1600 local time. The purpose of the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77651. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 572 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Observer Video (item 2, .PDF, 40 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339086&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Observer%20Video-Master.PDF - Photo 1. Airplane (Provided by Owner) (item 3, .PDF, 574 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40339095&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Airplane%20(Provided%20by%20Owner)-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.