Air Tractor INC AT-802A accident near Onalaska, Texas, August 9, 2022
On August 9, 2022 at about 10:09 pm local time, a 2022 Air Tractor INC AT-802A, registered N830DA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Onalaska, Texas (Angelina County airport). It was a firefighting flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during takeoff from a lake in gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 9, 2022 · about 10:09 pm local time
- Place
- Onalaska, Texas · Angelina County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-802A, built 2022 · all AT-802As on the register
- Registration
- N830DA · registry record · serial 802A-0930
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Firefighting flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was participating in firefighting operations and reported seven water tank re-fills (scoops) from the lake from the accident location before he stopped to refuel. Upon returning for the eighth scoop, the wind had increased, and the lake surface conditions were rougher than before. The pilot found it difficult to fill the water tank in the rough surface conditions and decided to abort his scoop run early. He closed the water filling scoops while trying to keep the nose of the airplane straight. He added power and rudder and had not transitioned to flight when the nose veered uncontrollably, and the airplane rotated almost 180°. The floats separated from the airplane and the right wing struck the water and sustained substantial damaged. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Damage signatures did not indicate the airplane hit an object in the water. Recorded data showed the propeller rpm decreased to zero over three seconds, followed by the airplane rotating 153° to the right. A weather report from a nearby airport showed gusty wind conditions and the terminal aerodrome forecast (TAF) predicted thunderstorms in the vicinity around the time of the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during takeoff defining event
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › High wind › Response/compensation
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: airship
- Flight time: 22,788 hours in all; 397 in this make and model; 206 in the last 90 days; 87 in the last 30 days; 17,288 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 21, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 105 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 3, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 16,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67F (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Aero Spray INC DBA Dauntless Air
The flight
- Departed from: LFK Lufkin TX at 10:00 pm
- Destination: LFK Lufkin TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 10 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KCXO, 30 miles away
Weather report (METAR): VFR METAR KCXO 092153Z 12011G20KT 10SM FEW065 36/21 A2997 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT NE AND E SLP143 T03560211= Accident 2215Z VFR METAR KCXO 092253Z 15010G19KT 10SM CLR 35/21 A2996 RMK AO2 SLP142 T03500206=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on April 18, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Reports from Parties to the Investigation - Air Tractor | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Correspondence - FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Meteorology | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photos | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Attachment 1 to Electronic Devices - Specialist's Factual Report | data file | Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.