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19980517009929A

Accident · Destroyed
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FAA accident report · Airtrc AT-502B · Parkins, AR · May 17, 1998

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
May 17, 1998 · 15:30 local
Place
Parkins, AR
Phase of flight
To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
Operating rules
Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator
UTCG
Damage
Destroyed
Aircraft
N502JF
NTSB investigation
NTSBFTW98LA225
Reported as
Airtrc AT502B
Reported engine
Pratt & Whitney PT6A34
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Pilot’s flight hours
3,200 total500 in this make and model75 in the last 90 days
N502JFRegistration cancelled Jan 12, 2000 · Air Tractor AT-502BS/N 502B-0253Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-502B

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.

Air tractor was taking off down wind with a load for aerial application when it struck a tree and crashed. (.4)the pilot stated that while taking off from a dirt strip, the airplane failed to clear a tree line about 200 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. According to local law enforcement officers, the airplane collided with an oak tree at the departure end of the airstrip as the pilot was attempting to takeoff to the south with a load of dry fertilizer. The pilot stated that the engine was performing normally. He estimated that he had 100 gallons of fuel on board. The position of the flaps could not be determined. During an investigation, the density altitude was estimated to be about 2,200 feet. (-23) while attempting a downwind take off from an inimproved strip the pilot was unable to clear the trees. The aircraft struck the trees and was demolished. The obstacles located near the runway dictated a downwind departure. Although the pilot had flown off this strip several times before the heat of the day.

As the FAA filed it

AIR TRACTOR WAS TAKING OFF DOWN WIND WITH A LOAD FOR AERIAL APPLICATION WHEN IT STRUCK A TREE AND CRASHED. (.4)THE PILOT STATED THAT WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A DIRT STRIP, THE AIRPLANE FAILED TO CLEAR A TREE LINE ABOUT 200 FEET BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. ACCORDING TO LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH AN OAK TREE AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE AIRSTRIP AS THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF TO THE SOUTH WITH A LOAD OF DRY FERTILIZER. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PERFORMING NORMALLY. HE ESTIMATED THAT HE HAD 100 GALLONS OF FUEL ON BOARD. THE POSITION OF THE FLAPS COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. DURING AN INVESTIGATION, THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS ESTIMATED TO BE ABOUT 2,200 FEET. (-23) WHILE ATTEMPTING A DOWNWIND TAKE OFF FROM AN INIMPROVED STRIP THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR THE TREES. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREES AND WAS DEMOLISHED. THE OBSTACLES LOCATED NEAR THE RUNWAY DICTATED A DOWNWIND DEPARTURE. ALTHOUGH THE PILOT HAD FLOWN OFF THIS STRIP SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE HEAT OF THE DAY.

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 FTW98LA225Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportParkin, ARthe pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from trees at the departure end of the airstrip. Related factors were: high density altitude and trees at the departure end of the airstrip.May 17, 1998 · Destroyed