# Accident 19980625015019A: Airtrc AT301, Ipswich, SD, June 25, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 25, 1998, 09:00 local time
- Place: Ipswich, SD
- Airport: Rappe Field Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 45.4406° N, 99.0206° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4406&lon=-99.0206&mi=10
- Aircraft: N31677, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31677-2023-06-20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-301 (registry code 0390103, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT301
- Reported engine: PWA R1340*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,150 total, 1,100 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA217) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980625015019A

## Narrative

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

(.19)ON JUNE 25, 1998, AT 1000 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-301, N31677, OPERATED BY TRI COUNTY AG SERVICE, INC., COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN AND NOSED OVER FOLLOWING A LOSS OF CONTROL ON TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP IN IPSWICH, SOUTH DAKOTA. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.  THE AIRPLANE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.  THE 14 CFR PART 137 AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT WAS OPERATING IN VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE FLIGHT WAS ORIGINATING AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.                        (.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT SHORTLY AFTER ROTATING DURING A TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH, A SUDDEN GUST OF WIND FROM THE SOUTH WAS EXPERIENCED.  HE REPORTED THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND THEN 'MUSHED.'  THE AIRPLANE TRAVELED OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A WET OAT FIELD WHERE THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER.  THE PILOT REPORTED THE LOCAL WINDS WERE FROM THE WEST AT 6 KNOTS.  THE 0856 CDT WEATHER OBSERVATION FOR ABERDEEN, SOUTH DAKOTA, 19 MILES EAST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE, REPORTED THE WINDS WERE FROM 230 DEGREES AT 7 KNOTS.                  (-23) ON TAKEOFF, AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE MOMENTARILY THEN SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRCRAFT RAN OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO TALL GRASS  AND FLIPPED OVER. PILOT STATED THERE WAS A WIND SHIFT.  METAR FOR SURROUNDING AIRPORTS INDICATED WINDS WERE FROM THE SOUTHWEST AT LESS THAN 10 KNOTS.

## 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 CHI98LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA217), Jun 25, 1998: Air Tractor AT-301 (N31677), Ipswich, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions and his failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in a stall/mush. Factors associated with the accident were the tailwind…

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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