Air Tractor AT402 N1532H accident near Pine Bluff, Arkansas

Probable cause

The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which led to an aerodynamic stall and a loss of airplane control. Contributing was a partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

NTSB analysis

The pilot reported that, during an aerial application flight, a partial loss of engine power occurred while he was performing the first climbing turn to reverse course. The airplane subsequently descended and impacted terrain in a nearvertical attitude.

Postaccident examination of the engine and its components revealed no preimpact anomalies. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined with the available evidence for this accident investigation.

Given the airplane’s near-vertical descent, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the climbing turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a loss of airplane control from which the pilot was unable to recover.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20LA234 for the full record.