Air Tractor AT502 near Atmore, AL — 2020-06-16

Final reportERA20LA217

Date: 2020-06-16
Location: Atmore, AL, USA
Aircraft: Air Tractor AT502
Registration: N879JA
Category: Airplane
Highest injury: Fatal
Fatalities: 1
Phase of flight: Climb

Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, spin, and loss of control.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot's spouse, he departed earlier on the morning of the accident to dispense two small “loads" of aerial application. On his return home, he called and asked her to come outside of their residence to watch the airplane fly over. She said that the airplane flew over the house before making a climb straight up. The airplane then banked to the left, rolled right, descended straight down, and she heard a loud "boom" shortly thereafter. Two witnesses who were fishing on a nearby lake saw the airplane flying below the tree line before it climbed straight up. They stated that the airplane rolled and descended straight down nose-first. They heard a "loud thud" and then silence. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin and loss of control.