Air Tractor AT 402 N38HT

Summary

On 2 August 2017 at about 23:35 local time, a Air Tractor AT 402 registered N38HT, operated by Usda/Ars, was involved in an accident near San Angelo, Texas, 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

2 August 2017 at 23:35

Classification

Accident

Location

San Angelo, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

San Angelo Rgnl/Mathis Field (SJT)

Coordinates

31.3567, -100.4992

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 402

Registration

N38HT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Usda/Ars

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Angelo → San Angelo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA469

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in crosswind conditions.

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 the landing roll in crosswind conditions, the airplane began an uncommanded slow right turn. He added that he applied left brake and left rudder, but the airplane continued to turn right. Subsequently, the airplane ground looped to the right, the left main landing gear collapsed, and the left wing impacted the ground. The left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system on the airport reported that, about 10 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 90° at 9 knots. The pilot landed on runway 36.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.