# Accident 19960519015949A: Airtrc AT401, Letcher, SD, May 19, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 19, 1996, 21:15 local time
- Place: Letcher, SD
- Airport: Mj Aviation Airstrip
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: MJAG
- Location: 43.8899° N, 98.1407° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8899&lon=-98.1407&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1019X, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1019X-2011-02-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-401 (registry code 0390204, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT401
- Reported engine: PWA R1340*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,508 total, 58 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI96LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA167) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960519015949A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI96LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA167), May 20, 1996: Air Tractor AT401 (N1019X), Letcher, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the severe weather condition. A factor was the weather conditions.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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