Pilot Debrief

AIR TRACTOR AT402 near Pine Bluff, AR — 2020-06-17

Final reportCEN20LA234
Sign in to save
Date
2020-06-17
Location
Pine Bluff, AR, USA
Aircraft
AIR TRACTOR AT402
Registration
N1532H
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which led to an aerodynamic stall and a loss of airplane control. Contributing was a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during an aerial application flight, a partial loss of engine power occurred while he was performing the first climbing turn to reverse course. The airplane subsequently descended and impacted terrain in a near vertical attitude. Postaccident examination of the engine and its components revealed no preimpact anomalies. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined with the available evidence for this accident investigation. Given the airplane’s near-vertical descent, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the climbing turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a loss of airplane control from which the pilot was unable to recover.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to land instead of continuing the climb after power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents5

Related mishaps