Air Tractor AT 802 N802DL

Summary

On 25 July 2017 at about 11:15 local time, a Air Tractor AT 802 registered N802DL was involved in an accident near Trumann, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 July 2017 at 11:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Trumann, Arkansas, United States

Coordinates

35.6192, -90.5689

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 802

Registration

N802DL

Category

Airplane

Year built

2016

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Private Field → Private Field

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

IMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA454

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s improper decision to continue flight in deteriorating weather conditions, which resulted in collision with the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he departed his private field for an agricultural application flight and flew northwest about 5 miles. He added that, as he approached the field that he had intended to spray, the visibility rapidly decreased. He began a 180° turn, but the visibility decreased to zero, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation system about 13 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about 11 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 180° at 5 knots, and the cloud celling was overcast at 300 ft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.