Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, N20361, Thompson Flying Service: Accident occurred January 17, 2017 in Vernon, Tooele County, Utah and Accident occurred June 12, 2016 in Cairo, Alexander County, Illinois

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

NTSB Identification: GAA17CA117
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Tuesday, January 17, 2017 in Vernon, UT
Probable Cause Approval Date: 07/05/2017
Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 802, registration: N20361
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he attempted to transition a mountain ridge after he had completed an aerial application. He added that he began to climb to a safe altitude in rising terrain but realized that it was going to be “close to clear” the mountain top. He attempted to turn to the left but noted that the terrain would not allow him to do so. He continued straight ahead and impacted the mountain top about 10 ft from the crest. 

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from mountainous terrain.

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he attempted to transition a mountain ridge after he had completed an aerial application. He added that he began to climb to a safe altitude in rising terrain, but realized that it was going to be "close to clear" the mountain top. He attempted to turn to the left, but noted that the terrain would not allow him to do so. He continued straight and impacted the mountain top about ten feet from the crest. 

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.

The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Additional Participating Entity: 
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Salt Lake City, Utah 

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf 

Thompson Flying Service LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N20361

NTSB Identification: GAA17CA117 
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Tuesday, January 17, 2017 in Vernon, UT
Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 802, registration: N20361
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot of a tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he attempted to transition a mountain ridge after he had completed an aerial application. He added that he began to climb to a safe altitude in rising terrain, but realized that it was going to be "close to clear" the mountain top. He attempted to turn to the left, but noted that the terrain would not allow him to do so. He continued straight and impacted the mountain top about ten feet from the crest.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.

The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.




(KUTV) A Missouri man whose plane crashed in a remote part of Tooele County said he feels lucky to have survived the ordeal – his second crash in less than 10 years.

“The good Lord was watching over me,” said Jason Thompson, 42, who crashed his  Air Tractor AT-802A aircraft Tuesday on Red Pine Mountain near Vernon.

Thompson, who works as a contractor for the Bureau of Land Management, had been reseeding burned areas from fires when his plane appeared to lose power. He said he couldn’t pull his plane out of the valley he was in, and the aircraft crashed.

Thompson survived. He told 2News he suffered cuts, abrasions, bumps and bruises, and a bloody nose. He was able to walk away from the crash and, after hiking what he estimates was several miles, was rescued by Apache helicopter crews from the Utah National Guard.

Thompson is amazed he wasn’t seriously injured – or worse.

“In all reality, I should not be sitting here talking to you,” he said.

This isn’t Thompson’s first brush with disaster. In 2009, he said, he was involved in another crash that landed him in the hospital.

Despite being shaken up over this most recent accident, Thompson said he’ll continue working as a pilot – something he’s done his entire life. He said he plans to return to his home in southeastern Missouri before returning to Utah to work.





JUAB COUNTY, Utah — The pilot of an aircraft that was reported missing Tuesday near the Juab/Tooele County border has been found alive.

A BLM crew found the missing pilot at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The missing pilot, who had been flying an  Air Tractor AT-802A, was found after walking two and a half hours from the crash site.

The crash, according to authorities, happened at Red Pine Peak, but authorities have not made it to the crash site.

Police said the pilot told authorities the reason for the crash was a loss of power.

According to Tooele County Sheriff’s Office, the pilot suffered minor injuries.

Source:  http://fox13now.com

 TOOELE COUNTY, Utah (ABC 4 News) — A pilot suffered minor injuries after a small crash in Tooele County Tuesday. 

Search and rescue crews were called to look missing plane that was "presumed to have crashed late this afternoon." 

Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the aircraft had one person onboard. 

Around 5 p.m., the pilot — contracted to work for the Bureau of Land Management — crashed the Air Tractor 802 plane he was flying in the area of Sheep Rock Mountains, according to the Tooele County Sheriff’s Department.

The pilot is a 42-year-old man from Missouri, and told first responders that he was trying to fly the plane over a peak but didn’t have enough power.

He suffered a bloody nose and cuts, according to the Sheriff’s office.

BLM workers found the downed plane on Pony Express Trail Road in Vernon around 7:30 p.m. 

Both Tooele County Sheriff's Office and Juab County Sheriff's Office were involved in the search. 

Story and video: http://www.good4utah.com

VERNON, Tooele County — A pilot suffered minor injuries in a crash landing Tuesday near the border of Juab and Tooele counties, police confirmed.

The plane crash landed around 5 p.m. Tuesday about eight miles west of Vernon, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Alen Kenitzer said. A search and rescue operation was conducted Tuesday evening, he said.

The wrecked plane was located in the Sheeprock Mountains area, just about six feet from the peak of the top of Red Pine Mountain, said Tooele County Sheriff's Sgt. Nicholas Yale.

The man flying the aircraft was contracted with the Bureau of Land Management to do some re-seeding in an area that burned in the spring, Yale said. He was flying home to Nephi at the time and was the only person in the plane.

Yale confirmed the pilot of the aircraft suffered minor injuries to his nose, hands and stomach. The man told police he began to lose power shortly before the crash landing and was unable to clear the mountain, according to Yale.

The aircraft was an Air Tractor AT-802 plane, according to Kenitzer. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board plan to investigate the crash, Kenitzer said.

The pilot was transported home, Yale said. The wrecked plane remained on Red Pine Mountain as of late Tuesday night.

Source:   http://www.deseretnews.com

VERNON, Tooele County — A pilot suffered minor injuries in a crash landing Tuesday near the border of Juab and Tooele counties, police confirmed.

The plane crash landed around 5 p.m. Tuesday about eight miles west of Vernon, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Alen Kenitzer said. A search and rescue operation was conducted Tuesday evening, he said.

The wrecked plane was located in the Sheeprock Mountains area, just about six feet from the peak of the top of Red Pine Mountain, said Tooele County Sheriff's Sgt. Nicholas Yale.

The man flying the aircraft was contracted with the Bureau of Land Management to do some re-seeding in an area that burned in the spring, Yale said. He was flying home to Nephi at the time and was the only person in the plane.

Yale confirmed the pilot of the aircraft suffered minor injuries to his nose, hands and stomach. The man told police he began to lose power shortly before the crash landing and was unable to clear the mountain, according to Yale.

The aircraft was an Air Tractor AT-802 plane, according to Kenitzer. The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board plan to investigate the crash, Kenitzer said.

The pilot was transported home, Yale said. The wrecked plane remained on Red Pine Mountain as of late Tuesday night.

Story and video:  http://www.ksl.com

Aviation Accident Final Report  -  National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Docket And Docket Items  -  National Transportation Safety Board:   https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms


Aviation Accident Data Summary -  National Transportation Safety Board:   https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf


NTSB Identification: GAA16CA313
14 CFR Part 137: Agricultural
Accident occurred Sunday, June 12, 2016 in Cairo, IL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/05/2016
Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 802, registration: N20361
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during the takeoff roll, the airplane "pulled hard to the left." He recalled that he applied full right rudder pedal and realized that he was approaching the end of the runway. He reported that he applied both brakes, he applied reverse thrust, the airplane exited the runway to the left and ground looped. The pilot reported that he did not confirm that the tailwheel pin was locked, prior to the takeoff roll. He further reported that in the future, he will confirm that the tailwheel is locked by working the tail back and forth, and he will check the tailwheel for inhibiting buildup of fertilizer, grease and dirt that would prevent tailwheel pin actuation. The right wing sustained substantial damage.

Per the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Safety Inspector that arrived shortly after the accident occurred, the airplane was dispersing fertilizer as part of a 49 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 operation. The prolonged use of fertilizer coupled with dirt, will inhibit the tailwheel pin from locking in place. A photograph was taken shortly after the accident by the FAA Inspector revealing a canted tailwheel. The FAA Inspector reported that the mechanic that performed the inspection on the tailwheel assembly noted that the assembly was, "gummed up with fertilizer and the pin was not in place at the time of the ground loop.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:

The pilot's failure to ensure that the tailwheel pin was in the locked position prior to the takeoff roll, resulting in a runway excursion, ground loop, and substantial damage.

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