Pilot Debrief

AIR TRACTOR AT602 near Knobel, AR — 2010-06-07

Final reportCEN10FA310
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Date
2010-06-07
Location
Knobel, AR, USA
Aircraft
AIR TRACTOR AT602
Registration
N4184P
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.

NTSB narrative

The airplane had departed on an aerial application flight to apply fertilizer to a nearby rice field. A witness said the airplane made a pass over the field and pitched up to reverse direction for another pass. The airplane then descended and disappeared behind a row of trees. The witness did not see the airplane impact but did hear it hit the ground. A postcrash examination of the airplane at the accident scene indicated that the airplane descended and struck the ground in a near vertical attitude. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies indicative of any systems problems prior to the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Controlled flight into terrain
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided low altitude maneuvering over the field.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents11

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