# NTSB WPR20CA313: Air Tractor AT 402, N45027, Somerton, AZ, September 20, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 19, 2020, 20:00 local (Sep 20, 2020, 03:00 UTC) - Place: Somerton, AZ - Coordinates: 32.55722, -114.68416 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5572&lon=-114.6842&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 102003 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102003/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102003 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA313 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to use full power during takeoff and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: powerplant parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 81 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062050/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390205), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, prior to the accident flight, water and a neutralizing agent were added to the hopper tank for cleaning purposes. Several hours later, the pilot conducted a preflight inspection for a night flight. After fueling the airplane, the pilot taxied onto the 2,500 ft. dirt runway, not using the entire length of the runway as he was under the assumption that the hopper was empty. He slowly advanced the power lever to a partial power setting for takeoff. The pilot stated that around the half-way point on the runway, he noticed the airplane was not obtaining the speed needed for takeoff and applied full power. As the airplane was close to the departure end of the runway, the pilot aborted the takeoff and attempted to stop the airplane using the brakes. Subsequently, the airplane overran the departure end of the runway and impacted vegetation. A post-crash fire ensued which destroyed the airplane. The pilot further reported that, after the accident he discussed the events with the company manager and determined the hopper had not been drained of the water prior to the flight. The pilot said that he believed the hopper to be empty and did not apply full power for takeoff. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45027](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45027-2022-05-09), registration cancelled 2022-05-09, S/N 402-0746 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT 402 (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402) (registry code 0390205) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402-0746 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 15219.7 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Tri-Rotor Spray & Chemical - Registered owner: Tri-Rotor Spray & Chemical - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 19, 2020 - Departed: AZ25, Somerton, AZ - Destination: AZ25, Somerton, AZ - Airport: AZ25, Tri-Rotor Ag Services, runway 26, 2,510 × 40 ft, dirt - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 26, 2019; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,167.5 total, 216.3 in this make and model, 1,040.9 as pilot in command, 295 in the last 90 days, 20.5 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.72 inHg - Observed at: KNYL, 7 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 20200919012669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200919012669A), Sep 19, 2020: Air Tractor Inc AT-402, Somerton, AZ, Destroyed. On September 19, 2020 at approximately 20:20 local time, aircraft N45027, crashed off of the end of the runway at Somerton AZ. (AZ25). Upon further… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 12, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102003. 24.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 24.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11396417&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR20CA313%20NTSB%206120%20(Pilot)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (pilot) (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11396869&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20phone%20conversation%20(Pilot)-Rel.pdf - Damage photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 318 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11428063&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Damage%20Photo-Rel.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.