Air Tractor Inc AT 502B N502G accident near Olton, Texas

Probable cause

The pilot's exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering during the aerial application flight, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control at an altitude too low to recover.

NTSB analysis

**This report was modified on October 27, 2023. Please see the docket for the original report.***

The commercial pilot was conducting agricultural spray operations. He turned the airplane around for a spray pass and turned left to the west about 300 ft above ground level. During the left turn, the airplane descended and impacted the ground and subsequently burst into flames. The pilot was seriously injured from the impact and postimpact fire. A witness reported that he did not see any smoke or fire coming from the airplane during the flight.

Data from a handheld GPS onboard the airplane revealed that the airplane had circled over the field being treated and then made four east-west spray passes. The recorded data ended before the airplane turned. It is likely that the pilot had finished with the east-west spray passes and intended to fly a few north-south passes to spray the southwest corner of the target field.

Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The propeller blades and propeller spinner exhibited rotational signatures consistent with the propeller being driven with mid to high power at the time of impact. The flap actuator was found in a position that corresponded to the flaps being extended 22° at the time of impact. The airplane flight manual stated that flaps may be used as a turning aid during agricultural operations provided that small deflections (5° to 8°) are used. It was not possible to determine from the available evidence the flap settings that the pilot used during the portion of the flight before the accident.

The pilot's previous employer reported that the pilot had a history of making tight turns during agricultural operations and had been warned about the associated dangers. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering during the aerial application flight, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control at an altitude too low to recover.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN18LA019 for the full record.