# Accident 19970418006109A: Airtrc AT401, Highmore, SD, April 18, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 18, 1997, 10:00 local time
- Place: Highmore, SD
- Airport: Highmore Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 44.5191° N, 99.4291° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5191&lon=-99.4291&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1008P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1008P-2006-12-08) (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*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI97LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA106) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970418006109A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT DEPARTING AIRPORT, CAUGHT FENCE AND FLIPPED OVER. (.4)THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED WITH 2,400 POUNDS OF FERTILIZER AND 100 GALLONS OF FUEL. DURING TAKEOFF, IT COLLIDED WITH A SIX FOOT HIGH FENCE AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY, AND FLIPPED OVER. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE TAKEOFF SEEMED NORMAL AND THAT NO AIRPLANE DISCREPANCIES WITH THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME WERE NOTED DURING THE TAXI, RUN UP, OR TAKEOFF ROLL. BEFORE COLLIDING WITH THE FENCE, THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY DUMP OF THE FERTILIZER. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRPLANE HAD LIFTED OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 1,900 FEET DOWN THE 2,800 FOOT LONG RUNWAY, AND THE AIRPLANE DID NOT CLIMB AFTER LIFT OFF. SAME TYPE AIRCRAFT WITH SIMILAR LOADS UNDER SIMILAR CONDITIONS WERE USING APPROXIMATELY 80 PERCENT OF THE AVAILABLE RUNWAY.                                        (-23) ON APRIL 18 AT 10:45 CDT N1008P AIR TRACTOR AT-401 CRASHED AFTER ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF FROM HIGHTMORE, SD AIRPORT.  THIS TAKEOFF WAS THE FIRST TAKEOFF IN THE EASTERLY DIRECTION.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT WANT TO CLIMB, HE ATTEMPTED TO DUMP THE LOAD, BUT WAS UNABLE.  THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN LANDING GEAR CONTACTED THE HIGHWAY 500 FEET FROM THE END OF THE R                UNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO REST ON THE TOP OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED, BUT CUT HIMSELF WHILE EXITING THE AIRCRAFT AND WAS HOSPITALIZED OVERNIGHT.

## 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 CHI97LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA106), Apr 18, 1997: Air Tractor AT-401 (N1008P), Highmore, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: a premature lift-off of the airplane by the pilot in command.

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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