Air Tractor AT 602 N20062

Summary

On 27 March 2015 at about 20:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT 602 registered N20062, operated by PRO AGRI SPRAYING, Inc., was involved in an accident near Ropesville, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

27 March 2015 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ropesville, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Pro-Agri Spraying (None)

Coordinates

33.4128, -102.1536

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 602

Registration

N20062

Category

Airplane

Year built

2011

Engines

1

Operator

PRO AGRI SPRAYING, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ropesville → Ropesville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA15CA023

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

During an aerial application flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the commercial pilot departed the airstrip with a full load of insecticide, but then realized the airplane was equipped with improper spray nozzles, and returned to the airstrip. Considering the fully loaded configuration, the pilot made one low approach and reported that everything felt normal. On the next approach the pilot touched down on the dirt portion of the runway, applied beta (reverse thrust), and immediately the airplane began yawing to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and right brake but the airplane continued to yaw left. According to the pilot, the tailwheel was not down when beta was applied, which contributed to the subsequent loss of directional control. The airplane exited the runway to the left and bounced over several crop rows causing the left main landing gear to collapse. The propeller dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall and right wing. When the airplane came to rest on its back, the pilot remained strapped in, upside down with his helmet on and visor down. The insecticide chemicals immediately began pouring over his face and he had the sensation that he was drowning. The pilot was able to release his seat belt and crawl out of the airplane through the emergency door. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.