Pilot Debrief

Air Tractor AT 602 near Bismarck, IL — 2018-07-13

Final reportCEN18LA270
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Date
2018-07-13
Location
Bismarck, IL, USA
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT 602
Registration
N629LA
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

A loss of control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting an aerial application flight; a witness saw the airplane maneuvering before entering a flat spin. Ground scars at accident site were consistent with a wings- and nose-level impact attitude. Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. The airplane was not equipped with an elevator down-spring or rudder-aileron interconnect system. According to the manufacturer, these systems were required and improved the stability and handling characteristics of the airplane. Although the circumstances of the accident are consistent with a stall/spin and loss of control, the reason for the loss of control could not be determined based on the available information; and whether the lack of the elevator down-spring and rudder-aileron interconnect systems contributed to the loss of control was not determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided low altitude maneuvering over the corn field.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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