# Accident 20030603014409A: Airtrc AT502A, Raywood, TX, June 3, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 3, 2003, 09:30 local time
- Place: Raywood, TX
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: NFPG
- Location: 30.0000° N, 94.5500° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0000&lon=-94.5500&mi=10
- Aircraft: N948BB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N948BB-2013-08-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-502A (registry code 0390306, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT502A
- Reported engine: PWA PT6A45R
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 22,350 total, 3,200 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA180) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030603014409A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIR TRACTOR CRASHED AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A 2000 FOOT GRASS STRIP (RUNWAY 18). SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT AND ONLY MINOR INJURIES TO PILOT. THE PILOT SAID HE NOTICED AT LIFTOFF THE FLAPS HAD NOT ACTIVATED. THE PILOT AND ONE EYEWITNESS SAID THE AIR TRACTOR BECAME AIRBORNE IN GROUND EFFECT AND BEGAN HITTING TREES AT APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET ABOVE THE RUNWAY SURFACE. THE OUTBOARD 50% OF THE LEFT WING WAS SEPARATED, BOTH FUEL CELLS REMAINED INTACT, THE PROPELLER WAS BROKEN OFF OF ITS HUB AND THE ENTIRE EMPENNAGE AND TAIL SURFACES WERE BENT 180 DEGREES TO THE LEFT SIDE FROM A REARWARD IMPACT ON THE TAIL. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH FIRE. THE TAIL SKID (MINUS THE TAIL WHEEL) WAS PROTRUDING INTO THE LEFT WINDOW OF THE COCKPIT JUST INCHES FROM THE PILOT'S FACE. THE PILOT AND THE MANUFACTURER'S REPRESENTATIVE BOTH SAID THAT THIS AIRCRAFT IS PARTICULARLY CRITICAL ON THE NEED FOR TEN DEGREES OF FLAPS ON TAKEOFF AND LANDING AND EVEN DURING "DUSTER TURNS." PILOT SAID HE WAS USING A COMMON (BUT NOT MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED) AG PILOT PROCEDURE OF ACCELERATING FOR TAKEOFF AT ZERO FLAPS AND THEN ACTIVATING TEN DEGREES OF FLAP AT LIFT OFF. FAA INSPECTOR AT THE SCENE FOUND THE FLAP SURFACES AT ZERO AND THE FLAP CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS POPPED.

## 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 LAX03LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA180), Jun 3, 2003: Air Tractor AT-502A (N948BB), Raywood, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: the pilot's encounter with a stall/mush condition in the takeoff initial climb due to his inadequate preflight/pretakeoff procedures and failure to set the wing flaps to the proper takeoff…

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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