# Accident 20090515007769A: Airtrc AT602, Charleston, MO, May 15, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 15, 2009, 09:30 local time
- Place: Charleston, MO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 1TJG
- Location: 36.8419° N, 89.3594° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.8419&lon=-89.3594&mi=10
- Aircraft: N85115, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N85115-2023-03-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-602 (registry code 0390309, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT602
- Reported engine: PWA PT6A60AG
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 90 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA316) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090515007769A

## Narrative

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

(-23) AIRCRAFT HEAVY WITH DRY FERTILIZER (POTASH) AND FUEL FAILED TO ACQUIRE AIRSPEED AND ALTITUDE ENOUGH TO CLEAR STANDING WHEAT AT THE END OF THE 2400 FOOT AIR STRIP.  THE DRAG OF THE WHEELS IN THE WHEAT CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO DESEND, PITCH DOWN AND FLIP ONTO ITS TOP APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS INTO THE WHEAT FIELD.  AS PROP AND ENGINE IMPACTED THE GROUND THE ENGINE CASE FAILED SEPARATING THE FORWARD PORTION OF ENGINE AND PROP FROM THE AIRCRAFT.  THE REMAINING PORTION OF THE ENGINE AND ITS MOUNT ABSORBED FURTHER IMPACT ENERGY AND BECAME THE PIVOT POINT AS THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER.  THE PILOT SURVIVED WITH SERIOUS INJURIES.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED NEAR ITS MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT.  SIMILAR LOADS WERE FLOWN THE DAY PRIOR AND THIS WAS THE THIRD LOAD FOR THE DAY.  THE PILOT DOES NOT RECALL EVENTS OF THE TAKEOFF.

## 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 CEN09CA316](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA316), May 15, 2009: Air Tractor AT-602 (N85115), Charleston, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff resulting in a runway overrun and impact with terrain.

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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