News

National Transportation Safety Board accident investigation statistics reveal sobering statistics from the past decade: Twenty-six percent of fatal agricultural aircraft accidents were caused primarily by stall/ spins. Fifty percent of deadly stall/spins happened during turns, and 62 percent of reported stall/spins occurring during a turn were fatal. To help raise awareness of the precursors of stall/spin accidents during aerial applicaton, AirTractor has released a new video entitled “Turn Smart - Respect the Safety Margin.” The 40-minute YouTube video is hosted by former Air Tractor Chief Test Pilot Mike Rhodes and AeroShell Aerobatic Team member and veteran ag pilot Steve Gustafson. They have an in-depth discussion of the root causes of stall/ spin accidents as well as the mindset and procedures necessary to avoid a deadly low-altitude stall/spin. Rhodes and Gustafson examine the unique mission and flight characteristics of agricultural planes and take a deep dive into the “four left turning tendencies,” explaining how these affect all airplanes, including agricultural airplanes. They further touch upon the importance of pilot training for stall/spins in an appropriately rated aircraft and maintaining an adequate margin of safety during aerial spraying operations.