Air Tractor INC AT-802 accident near Herington, Kansas, September 28, 2023
On September 28, 2023 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 2016 Air Tractor INC AT-802, registered N445HA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Herington, Kansas (Herington Rgnl airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The design of the spray valve control lever, which restricted the range of the left rear rudder and brake pedal and resulted in a loss of control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2023 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Herington, Kansas · Herington Rgnl · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-802, built 2016 · all AT-802s on the register
- Registration
- N445HA · registry record · serial 802-0633
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor in the rear seat reported that during the landing roll the tailwheel unlocked, and the airplane turned right. He applied full left rudder and attempted to apply left brake, but when the left rudder and left brake were both applied, the top of the pedal toe brake contacted the spray control lever pushrod, preventing full braking. The airplane continued off the right side of the runway, where the airplane impacted a ditch and sustained substantial damage to the wings. Postaccident examination revealed that the front-seat rudder/brake pedals were found to move to their full range of motion without interference. The rear-seat rudder/brake pedals were found in the forward adjustment position. With full left rudder deflection, the left brake pedal’s range was restricted by the upper spray valve control pushrod. There were no other mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The design of the spray valve control lever and left rear rudder pedal in the forward adjustment position restricted the left rudder and brake pedal, which resulted in a loss of control during landing.
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
- Runway excursion during landing
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Rudder control system › Design
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 4,500 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 25,000 as pilot in command; 3,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 13, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,360.3 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 16,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-65AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,184 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 11:52 am from KMHK, 27 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMHK 281652Z 19007KT 10SM CLR 31/15 A2994 RMK AO2 SLP127 T03060150
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on November 7, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Reports from Parties to the Investigation - Air Tractor | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Examination Summary | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Photos | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Air Tractor Service Letter #405 - Controls Interference | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | FAA Saib 2024-03 - Rudder Control System | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | 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.