Air Tractor AT 400A N400DQ

Summary

On 11 March 2019 at about 21:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT 400A registered N400DQ, operated by Oregon Trail Air Service Llc, was involved in an accident near Parma, Idaho, 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

11 March 2019 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Parma, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Parma (50S)

Coordinates

43.7789, -116.9386

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 400A

Registration

N400DQ

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Oregon Trail Air Service Llc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Parma → Parma

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA163

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing in variable wind conditions, which resulted in the right wing impacting muddy terrain.

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, during the landing roll, the tail "lifted back up" due to a "wind gust" and that the airplane then veered left, spun, exited the runway, and the right wing impacted muddy terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the wind was light and variable at 5 knots. An automated weather observation station located about 15 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about 30 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 150° at 4 knots and that, about 30 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 120° at 5 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 30.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.