# Accident 20040723015519A: Airtrc AT502B, Mendota, CA, July 23, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 23, 2004, 05:15 local time
- Place: Mendota, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: T9DG
- Location: 36.7536° N, 120.3806° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7536&lon=-120.3806&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5010E, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5010E-2014-10-06) (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
- Reported engine: PWA PT6*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 20,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 400 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA275) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040723015519A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 7/23/2004 AT 0515 HOURS, N5010E, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-502-B, WAS DESTROYED WHEN IT CRASHED DURING TAKE OFF FROM AN AGRICULTURAL AIRSTRIP APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES WEST OF MENDOTA, CA. THE PILOT IN COMMAND, DOUGLAS EDWARD THIEL, COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE #550925261, STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN FROM THE 1/2 MILE DIRT RUNWAY ALL ENGINE INDICATORS SHOWED THE PT6A WAS PRODUCING NORMAL TAKE OFF POWER. AS THE TAIL RAISED AT ABOUT 80 KIAS, THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED ON THE RUNWAY FOR 300 FEET BEFORE BECOMING AIRBORNE, BUT FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND CLIMB BECAUSE THE FLAPS WERE RETRACTED. MR. THIEL LOWERED THE FLAPS TO THE TAKE OFF POSITION ATTEMPTING TO GAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR THE CORN FIELD AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. HE TRIED TO JETTISON THE 3000# OF PESTICIDE, BUT MISIDENTIFIED THE SPRAY CONTROL FOR THE DUMP VALVE AND WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. THE AIRCRAFT FLEW JUST ABOVE STALLING SPEED ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE CORN FIELD WITH THE PROPELLER SHEARING THE TOPS OF THE CORN STALKS, CROSSED AN ACCESS ROAD AND SETTLED INTO AN ADJACENT ALFALFA FIELD. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR STRUCK THE GROUND FOLLOWED BY THE LEFT WING TIP. THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELED THREE TIMES AND CAME TO REST INVERTED 168 FEET FROM THE POINT OF IMPACT.

## 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 LAX04LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA275), Jul 23, 2004: Air Tractor AT-502B (N5010E), Mendota, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight/pretakeoff procedure by not lowering the wing flaps, which resulted in an inadvertent stall as the pilot attempted to climb out of ground effect to clear a corn crop…

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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