2011 Air Tractor AT-401 accident at Kataza private airstrip (ZS-NLP)

Overview and flight details On 14 February 2011, at 0440Z, an Air Tractor AT-401, registration ZS-NLP, was involved in an accident at Kataza private airstrip in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The aircraft was operated by Rautenbach Aerial Spraying for Van den Berg Lugbespuiting cc and was on an agricultural crop-spraying flight. The pilot-in-command, a 60-year-old male, held a commercial pilot licence with night and agricultural ratings. He had a total of 7,946.3 flight hours and 24.7 hours on type. The aircraft was a 1993 Air Tractor AT-401, serial number 401-0935, powered by a Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN-1 engine. It had 4,856.9 airframe hours at the time of the accident and was under standard Part 137 operating categories. ## Accident sequence The pilot stated that after completing a crop-spraying detail, he approached the 800-metre runway at an indicated airspeed of approximately 70 to 80 mph. During the landing, the aircraft bounced on a wet stretch of the runway. The pilot attempted to recover by applying full throttle, but the engine did not respond due to the rapid movement of the throttle lever. The aircraft then slid down the downslope of the runway and ground-looped with the tail wheel still locked in the landing position. The investigation concluded that the pilot induced an engine failure by rapidly moving the throttle and lost control on landing. A wet runway was identified as a contributing factor. ## Injuries, damage, and investigation findings The pilot was properly restrained and sustained no injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the tail section. There was no pre- or post-impact fire. The investigation found that the pilot held a valid medical certificate and was properly rated on the aircraft type. Maintenance records indicated the aircraft was properly maintained, with the mandatory periodic inspection conducted as per regulations. The aircraft had a valid certificate of airworthiness issued on 16 February 2007. Weather was not a contributory factor. The aircraft was not equipped with a flight data recorder or cockpit voice recorder, nor was it required by regulation. The report was compiled under Regulation 12.03.1 of the Civil Aviation Regulations (1997) to promote aviation safety, not to establish legal liability.