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19960519015949A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Airtrc AT-401 · Letcher, SD · May 19, 1996

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
May 19, 1996 · 21:15 local
Place
Letcher, SD
Airport
Mj Aviation Airstrip
Phase of flight
Takeoff Ground Roll
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Operator
MJAG
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N1019X
NTSB investigation
NTSBCHI96LA167
Reported as
Airtrc AT401
Reported engine
Pratt & Whitney R1340*
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
3,508 total58 in this make and model16 in the last 90 days
N1019XRegistration cancelled Feb 15, 2011 · Air Tractor AT-401S/N 401-0736 · Built 1989Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-401Engine modelPratt & Whitney R1340 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(.4)The pilot reported that after landing, following an aerial application flight, he observed lightning to the northwest of the Airstrip. Due to the approaching weather, the pilot decided to ferry the airplane to another airport where hangar facilities were available. During the takeoff roll to the south, a gust front from the approaching storm reached the field. The wind changed from calm to approximately 30 knots from the west. He attempted to continue the takeoff but 'was unable to attain flying speed and maintain directional control.' The airplane departed the east side of the runway and nosed over. (-23) on may 19, 1996, at 2115 CDT, an AT401, N1019X, operated by mj aviation, inc., was substantially damaged when it nosed over during takeoff at Letcher, SD. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. Thunderstorms and severe winds were reported by witnesses. The 14 CFR part 91 flight was planned to mitchell, SD. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.

As the FAA filed it

(.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT AFTER LANDING, FOLLOWING AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, HE OBSERVED LIGHTNING TO THE NORTHWEST OF THE AIRSTRIP. DUE TO THE APPROACHING WEATHER, THE PILOT DECIDED TO FERRY THE AIRPLANE TO ANOTHER AIRPORT WHERE HANGAR FACILITIES WERE AVAILABLE. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL TO THE SOUTH, A GUST FRONT FROM THE APPROACHING STORM REACHED THE FIELD. THE WIND CHANGED FROM CALM TO APPROXIMATELY 30 KNOTS FROM THE WEST. HE ATTEMPTED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF BUT 'WAS UNABLE TO ATTAIN FLYING SPEED AND MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.' THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE EAST SIDE OF THE RUNWAY AND NOSED OVER. (-23) ON MAY 19, 1996, AT 2115 CDT, AN AT401, N1019X, OPERATED BY MJ AVIATION, INC., WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT NOSED OVER DURING TAKEOFF AT LETCHER, SD. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT REPORTED NO INJURIES. THUNDERSTORMS AND SEVERE WINDS WERE REPORTED BY WITNESSES. THE 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT WAS PLANNED TO MITCHELL, SD. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI96LA167Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportLetcher, SDthe pilot's inadequate evaluation of the severe weather condition. A factor was the weather conditions.May 20, 1996 · Substantial damage