Air Tractor AT 602 N602BK

Summary

On 22 February 2020 at about 21:20 local time, a Air Tractor AT 602 registered N602BK, operated by Bunkie Flying Service Inc, was involved in an accident near Bunkie, Louisiana, 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

22 February 2020 at 21:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Bunkie, Louisiana, United States

Nearest airport

Bunkie Flying Service (2LA4)

Coordinates

30.9292, -92.1792

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 602

Registration

N602BK

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Bunkie Flying Service Inc

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Iota → Bunkie

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20CA103

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to lock the tailwheel before landing, which resulted in his loss of directional control during the landing roll, a runway excursion onto soft ground, and a subsequent ground loop.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he was performing a straight-in approach and landing. The airplane touched down on the runway centerline, and it was under control. After the tailwheel settled onto the runway, the pilot applied the brakes and retarded the engine power to the beta range. Shortly after, the airplane began to swerve left. The pilot's efforts to maintain directional control were unsuccessful, and the airplane departed the left side of the runway, encountered soft ground, and ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot noted that he did not ensure that the tailwheel lock was engaged before landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.