# Accident 19961008031249A: Airtrc AT502, Idalou, TX, October 8, 1996

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 8, 1996, 17:45 local time
- Place: Idalou, TX
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: TTKG
- Location: 33.6596° N, 101.6808° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6596&lon=-101.6808&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4533H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4533H-2003-03-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-502 (registry code 0390303, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A (registry code 52043, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT502
- Reported engine: PWA PT6A15AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 4,229 total, 2,188 in this make and model, 316 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA012) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961008031249A

## Narrative

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

OVER GROSS WEIGHT. FAILED TO FLY OR ABORT. RAN OFF END STRIP. DUMPED LOAD TO LATE. HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE FACTOR. (-23) ON OCTOBER 8, 1996, AT 1745 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, AIR TRACTOR, N4533H, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE DIRT STRIP NEAR IDALOU, TEXAS. THE INTENDED FLIGHT WAS FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION OF COTTON DEFOLIANT IN THE LOCAL AREA. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED TO VERY NEAR MAXIMUM GROSS TAKE OFF WEIGHT. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT HE HAD MISS-CALCULATED THE TAKE OFF PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND OPTED TO USE THE EAST-WEST RUNWAY THAT WAS 2500 FEET, INSTEAD OF THE NORTH-SOUTH RUNWAY THAT IS ALMOST 5000 FEET IN LENGTH. INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT REVEALED THE FLAPS TO BE IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. THE LEFT MAIN GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE LEFT WING AND FUSELAGE SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED.

## 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 FTW97LA012](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA012), Oct 8, 1996: Air Tractor AT-502 (N4533H), Idalou, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in an overrun during takeoff and an encounter with cotton (crop) and rough/uneven terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the excessive…

## Other reports on N4533H (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19990528006059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990528006059A), May 28, 1999: Airtrc AT502 (N4533H), Cherry Valley, AR, Substantial damage. Acft was departing private strip 6 miles w of Cherry Valley ar. Unable to fly out of ground effect, stalled, collided with terrain just north of strip.…

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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