20090810020199A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Airtrc AT-301 · Dewitt, IL · August 10, 2009

Date: August 10, 2009 · 14:00 local
Place: Dewitt, IL
Phase of flight: Maneuver
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: 1MRG
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N5018S
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN09CA514
Reported as: Airtrc AT301
Reported engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340*
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 7,000 total300 in this make and model60 in the last 90 days

N5018SRegistration cancelled May 3, 2010 · Air Tractor AT-301S/N 301-0107 · Built 1977 Airframe modelAir Tractor AT-301 Engine modelPratt & Whitney R1340 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

During an aerial application operation the pilot was unable to maintain a safe altitude while making a turnaround despite adding full power. Pilot was maneuvering to dump the load when aircraft stuck trees and crashed into a cornfield. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot received serious injuries. Aircraft gross weight was 6881 pounds. Eir#2009GL190039.

As the FAA filed it

DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A SAFE ALTITUDE WHILE MAKING A TURNAROUND DESPITE ADDING FULL POWER. PILOT WAS MANEUVERING TO DUMP THE LOAD WHEN AIRCRAFT STUCK TREES AND CRASHED INTO A CORNFIELD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED AND THE PILOT RECEIVED SERIOUS INJURIES. AIRCRAFT GROSS WEIGHT WAS 6881 POUNDS. EIR#2009GL190039.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN09CA514Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportDeWitt, ILThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the tree during the aerial application maneuver.Aug 10, 2009 · Substantial damage