What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On April 21, 2004, approximately 1230 CST, N5196J, an air tractor 502B single-engine airplane, was destroyed by fire after it collided with terrain during takeoff from powell ranch near San Angelo, Texas. The pilot attempted to takeoff from a 3,000-foot-long dirt strip on a hot day with 500 gallons of chemicals on board, full fuel tanks, and a crosswind. Subsequently, the landing gear contacted tree tops, and the airplane rolled and collided with the ground. Once the airplane came to a stop, it caught fire. The pilot was not injured.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON APRIL 21, 2004, APPROXIMATELY 1230 CST, N5196J, AN AIR TRACTOR 502B SINGLE-ENGINE AIRPLANE, WAS DESTROYED BY FIRE AFTER IT COLLIDED WITH TERRAIN DURING TAKEOFF FROM POWELL RANCH NEAR SAN ANGELO, TEXAS. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A 3,000-FOOT-LONG DIRT STRIP ON A HOT DAY WITH 500 GALLONS OF CHEMICALS ON BOARD, FULL FUEL TANKS, AND A CROSSWIND. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LANDING GEAR CONTACTED TREE TOPS, AND THE AIRPLANE ROLLED AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. ONCE THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A STOP, IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.