# Accident 20050524008829A: Airtrc AT402A, Cherry Valley, AR, May 24, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 24, 2005, 14:00 local time
- Place: Cherry Valley, AR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: R1KG
- Location: 35.3708° N, 90.7561° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3708&lon=-90.7561&mi=10
- Aircraft: N198AS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N198AS-2015-05-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-402A (registry code 0390206, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52034, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT402A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,800 total, 975 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DFW05CA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA131) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050524008829A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MAY 24, 2005, AT 1400 CDT, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-402A, N198AS, SETTLED INTO THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY WHILE CONDUCTING A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED AND THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED AS AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ D/B/A RUNSICK FLYING SERVICE, UNDER 14 CFR PART 137 WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT THE RUNSICK AGRICULTURAL DIRT AIRSTRIP AT CHERRY VALLEY, ARKANSAS, AT 1400 CDT. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT INFORMED THE INVESTIGATING INSPECTOR HE MADE A DOWNWIND TAKEOFF. THE 400 GALLON HOPPER WAS FULL (TO THE TOP) OF NITROGEN AREA PELLETIZED FERTILIZED. THE PILOT POINTED OUT WHERE THE MAIN WHEELS CONTACTED A RICE LEVEE WITHIN APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET OF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED ON FOR APPROXIMATELY 1/4 MILE BEFORE STRIKING ANOTHER LEVEE, THEN IT STRUCK A DITCH WHICH REPRESENTED THE MAIN IMPACT POINT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET BEYOND THE DITCH.

## 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 DFW05CA131](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW05CA131), May 24, 2005: Air Tractor AT-402A (N198AS), Cherry Valley, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to calculate take off-distance performance data, which resulted in insufficient runway length for take off. Factors were the tailwind and high gross weight.

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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