# NTSB WPR25LA011: Air Tractor AT502, N243LA, Corcoran, CA, October 8, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 8, 2024, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Corcoran, CA - Coordinates: 36.036, -119.694 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0360&lon=-119.6940&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - 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 FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195296 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195296/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195296 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA011 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper manipulation of the condition lever during flight, which resulted in fuel starvation and a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: mixture control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Approach: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, while maneuvering from base to final, he noticed the fuel control condition lever was in the cut-off position, which subsequently resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. He immediately pushed the power, propeller, and condition levers full forward, but did not observe an expected increase in power. After an unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine, the airplane landed in a cotton field short of the intended runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N243LA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N243LA), registered now, S/N 502B-3020, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT502 (B) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34ag) (registry code 52251, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-3020 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 5020 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Lakeland Dusters Aviation Inc, doing business as Lakeland Aviation - Registered owner: H & G Farms Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, September 25, 2024, 32 hours before - Departed: 43CN, Corcocran, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PVT, 10 Strip, runway 18/36, 5,280 × 80 ft, dirt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2022; seat: center; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 8,074 total, 1,976 in this make and model, 7,945.8 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KVIS, 22 nm away - METAR: METAR KVIS 081656Z AUTO 18008KT 10SM CLR 27/12 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP105 T02670122 $= ## 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 20241008015419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241008015419A), Oct 8, 2024: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Corcoran, CA, Substantial damage. On October 18, 2024, an agricultural Air tractor was returning from dispensing operations. While approaching the runway, the pilot inadvertently moved the fuel… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195296. 9.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 8.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18177685&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18176342&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18178053&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20MOR-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.