Air Tractor AT502 N243LA

Summary

On 8 October 2024 at about 17:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT502 registered N243LA, operated by Lakeland Dusters Aviation Inc, was involved in an accident near Corcoran, California, 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

8 October 2024 at 17:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Corcoran, California, United States

Nearest airport

10 Strip (PVT)

Coordinates

36.0360, -119.6940

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT502

Registration

N243LA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2015

Engines

1

Operator

Lakeland Dusters Aviation Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Corcocran → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR25LA011

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper manipulation of the condition lever during flight, which resulted in fuel starvation and a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, while maneuvering from base to final, he noticed the fuel control condition lever was in the cut-off position, which subsequently resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. He immediately pushed the power, propeller, and condition levers full forward, but did not observe an expected increase in power. After an unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine, the airplane landed in a cotton field short of the intended runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.