# Accident 20040421018309A: Airtrc AT502B, San Angelo, TX, April 21, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 21, 2004, 12:30 local time
- Place: San Angelo, TX
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: SMRG
- Location: 31.3575° N, 100.4961° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3575&lon=-100.4961&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5196J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5196J-2004-11-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-502B (registry code 0390307, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52034, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT502B
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 14,522 total, 577 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04CA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04CA112) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040421018309A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 FTW04CA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04CA112), Apr 21, 2004: Air Tractor AT-502B (N5196J), San Angelo, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's improper preflight performance planning, and his failure to establish a climb. Factors were the high density altitude and crosswind.

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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