Air Tractor AT-602 N455LA
4 August 2021 · Mer Rouge, Louisiana, United States · Minor injuries
Summary
On 4 August 2021 at about 20:20 local time, a Air Tractor AT-602 registered N455LA was involved in an accident near Mer Rouge, Louisiana, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:20
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mer Rouge, Louisiana, United States
- Coordinates
- 32.7731, -91.7839
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-602
- Registration
- N455LA
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2020
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN21LA357
People
1 person had minor injuries.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
The total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot and ground personnel’s miscalculation of available fuel.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The accident occurred on the third aerial application flight of the day. Ground support personnel stated they loaded the airplane with about 480 gallons of insecticide and fertilizer, and about 60 gallons of Jet A-1 fuel, which increased the total fuel load to about 160 gallons prior to takeoff. Shortly after rotation, the airplane engine lost power. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a soybean field and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s intact fuel system and the accident site found no evidence of fuel. The investigation revealed that the ground personnel and the pilot thought the airplane contained about 160 gallons of fuel prior to takeoff; however, based on the available evidence, it is likely the airplane did not contain fuel, and the engine lost power due to fuel exhaustion.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Air Tractor AT-602 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Mar 2021 | Air Tractor AT-602 | Dumas, Arkansas, United States | K & P Flying Services Inc | No injuries | - |
| 6 Jul 2021 | Air Tractor AT-602 | Nappanee, Indiana, United States | Agriflight Services Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 4 Jun 2021 | Air Tractor AT-602 | Drew, Mississippi, United States | Boyle Flying Service Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 2022 | Air Tractor AT-602 | Murray, Nebraska, United States | Murdoch Aerial Spraying LLC | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 2022 | Air Tractor AT-602 | Beaumont, Texas, United States | Twin County Air-Ag Inc | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 2020 | Air Tractor AT 602 | Weldon, Arkansas, United States | PMZ Flying Service | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 May 2021 | Air Tractor AT-502A | Clayton, Louisiana, United States | Ferriday Flying Service Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 21 Aug 2021 | Robinson R44 II | Gonzales, Louisiana, United States | Down River Aviation LLC | No injuries | - |
| 23 May 2021 | Sub-Sonex JSX-2 | Shreveport, Louisiana, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 6 Oct 2021 | Bell 206 | Gonzales, Louisiana, United States | Louisiana Department of Public Safety | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Jan 2021 | Air Tractor AT-802A | Newellton, Louisiana, United States | Tensas Flying Service LLC | Fatal | 1 |
| 20 Aug 2021 | Robinson R44 II | New Roads, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |