N421CA is a 2009 Air Tractor AT-502B. It is a fixed-wing single-engine aircraft with 1 seat, powered by a P&W Canada PT6A-34AG rated at 750 horsepower. The registration is active, with the registrant based in Gratiot, WI. Its restricted airworthiness certificate was issued in May 2009. It has been registered to its current owner since Aug 2023. This page also carries 1 NTSB event.
- 17 years old
- 1 of 373 Air Tractor AT-502B
2023
2009
That's everything on file so far — TailWiki checks the FAA registry daily and adds new entries as N421CA's record changes.
The pilot of an agricultural airplane reported that he planned to apply a herbicide and test the spray system at maximum pressure at a specified airspeed. He added that a ground tractor was also in the field applying the same chemical. During the flight, he saw the tractor and passed over it at 50 to 100 ft. While spraying at 10 ft agl, he noted pressure, output, airspeed, and ground speed. At the end of the field, he climbed and made a left 180-degree turn for another pass. The pilot reported that he "lost focus" outside of the airplane, while looking at the spray results and when he noticed the tractor, it was too late; the airplane's wheel collided with the tractor. Examination of the airplane found substantial damage to the fuselage.
The driver of the tractor reported that he heard someone call him on the radio, he answered the pilot on the radio and saw the airplane coming "directly at him, very low." The tractor operator heard and felt the impact and was knocked from his seat by the collision. The tractor driver then called his supervisor for help. The tractor driver added that his supervisor and another ground sprayer had been "buzzed" by the pilot before.
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