Air Tractor AT 802 N802NB

Summary

On 5 June 2017 at about 14:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT 802 registered N802NB, operated by Air-Trac Inc, was involved in an accident near Prosser, Washington, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 June 2017 at 14:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Prosser, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Sun Heaven Airstrip (PVT)

Coordinates

46.1136, -119.5147

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 802

Registration

N802NB

Category

Airplane

Year built

2016

Engines

1

Operator

Air-Trac Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prosser → Prosser

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA323

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s abrupt maneuver to avoid hay bales during the takeoff roll, which resulted in a loss of directional control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during an agricultural application flight, about 800 ft into the takeoff roll on a gravel airstrip, he veered the airplane to the right to avoid hay bales that were stacked on the left side of the runway. He added that, as the airplane veered right, the right-wing spray boom encountered tall wheat, and the airplane exited the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.