# Accident 20090529011239A: Airtrc AT502, Mendota, IL, May 29, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 29, 2009, 07:50 local time
- Place: Mendota, IL
- Airport: Grandpas' Farm Mendota
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: YGLG
- Location: 41.5219° N, 89.1325° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5219&lon=-89.1325&mi=10
- Aircraft: N198LA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N198LA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-502 (registry code 0390303, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52032, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT502
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,581 total, 400 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA323) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090529011239A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON MAY 29, 2009 AT 0745 MR. DONALD LEE YOUNGLOVE WAS PILOT IN COMMAND OF AN AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING AIRCRAFT, AIR TRACTOR 502, N49PL WHEN HE CRASHED OFF THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF.  MR YOUNGLOVE WAS DEPARTING RUNWAY 36 FROM GRANDPA'S FARM AIRPORT, 0C7, LOCATED IN MENDOTA, ILLINOIS.  MR. YOUNGLOVE STATES THE FOLLOWING; "I LOADED MY SPRAYPLANE WITH 340 GALLONS OF A MIXTURE OF WATER AND CHEMICAL TO SPRAY A FIELD OF WHEAT SIX MILES NORTH OF THE AIRPORT.  I PROCEEDED TO TAKEOFF TO THE NORTH AS THE WIND WAS ABOUT 280°.  THREE QUARTERS OF THE WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY I FELT THE AIRPLANE HIT A SOFT SPOT IN THE GRASS RUNWAY.  I TRIED TO HELP THE AIRPLANE OFF THE GROUND, BUT IT SETTLED BACK ON THE RUNWAY.  I TRIED TO DUMP THE LOAD AND ADD FULL FLAPS, BUT BY THAT TIME THE AIRPLANE HIT A HILL IN THE FIELD OFF THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRPLANE AGAIN BECAME AIRBORNE AND I TURNED TO THE RIGHT AS TO MISS THE WIRES AND POLES BY THE ROAD.  THE RIGHT WING TIP HIT THE GROUND AND THEN THE LEFT WING IMPACTED THE GROUND, THE AIRPLANE THEN CAME TO REST."  MR. YOUNGLOVE REPORTED THAT THE GRASS RUNWAY WAS WET.  HE COULD NOT ANSWER WHAT HIS ROTATION SPEED WAS, YET HE CONFIRMED THE NECESSITY TO LIFT OFF AT THIS POINT IN ORDER TO CLEAR THE WIRES.  WEIGHT AND BALANCE WAS RECONFIGURED AND DETERMINED NOT TO BE A CASUAL FACTOR.  MR. YOUNGBLOOD ADMITS TO FORCING THE AIRCRAFT INTO THE AIR WHILE DEPARTING FOR THE WET GRASS RUNWAY.

## 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 CEN09CA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA323), May 29, 2009: Air Tractor AT-502 (N198LA), Mendota, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation and his failure to perform an aborted takeoff.

## Other reports on N198LA (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20130207002059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130207002059A), Feb 7, 2013: Air Tractor Inc AT-502 (N198LA), Forrest City, AR, Substantial damage. The pilot stated after making the first pass, spraying water to test the GPS, he started a left turn. At the top of the turn at about 45 degrees bank suddenly…

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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