# Accident 20090817016479A: Airtrc AT502B, Whittemore, IA, August 17, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 17, 2009, 14:20 local time
- Place: Whittemore, IA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: RCGG
- Location: 43.0625° N, 94.4231° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0625&lon=-94.4231&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5003C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5003C) (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 PT6A15AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,851 total, 781 in this make and model, 159 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA533](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA533) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090817016479A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING USED IN AGRICULTURAL SPRAYING OPERATIONS.  THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF AFTER TAKING ON A LOAD OF CHEMICAL AND FUEL.  THE AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF APPROXIMATELY TWO THIRDS TO THREE QUARTERS DOWN THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK TO THE GROUND AND BOUNCED.  THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED A SECOND TIME AND THE LANDING GEAR WENT THROUGH A SOYBEAN FIELD.  THE AIRCRAFT'S LANDING GEAR THEN SCRAPED THE EMBANKMENT OF THE ROAD THAT IS ADJACENT TO THE NORTH END OF THE RUNWAY.  THE AIRCRAFT THEN CROSSED THE ROAD AND CRASHED INTO A BEAN FIELD ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE ROAD.  THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE EMPENNAGE WAS BENT AROUND THE REMAINDER OF THE FUSELAGE.  BOTH WINGS AND THE LANDING GEAR WERE SEVERELY DAMAGED.  THE PROPELLER WAS DAMAGED, BUT THE PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING AND HE USED THE CONDITION LEVER TO SHUTDOWN THE ENGINE.

## 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 CEN09CA533](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA533), Aug 17, 2009: Air Tractor AT-502B (N5003C), Whittemore, IA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's lack of preflight planning and remedial action with resulted in the airplane's inability to climb out of ground effect.

## Other reports on N5003C (1)

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

- [Incident 20041028026249I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041028026249I), Oct 28, 2004: Airtrc AT502B (N5003C), Levelland, TX, Minor damage. (-23) On October 28, 2004, at approximately 1600, an agricultural aircraft, N5003C, flew through an electrical line cutting it with the propeller, causing…

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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