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CEN24LA255

2024-07-04 · Brad, Texas, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Current FAA registration · N983LA

Make / Model
AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802
Year of manufacture
2022 · 2 years old at event
Engine
P&W CANADA PT6A-67F (1796 hp)
Seats / Engines
2 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
20220922
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S ADB744

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after encountering a large boat wake.

Factual narrative

The pilot was performing firefighting activity at the time of the accident. He reported that after scooping a load of water and applying takeoff power, the airplane encountered a large boat wake which caused it to become airborne. However, the pilot did not have sufficient flight control authority to counter act the engine torque. The left float contacted the water, and the airplane veered to the left. The left-wing spar was damaged during the impact sequence. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions before the accident that would have precluded normal airplane operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Choppy surface-Contributed to outcome

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_CEN24LA255.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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