# Accident 20180527012649A: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Qulin, MO, May 27, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 27, 2018, 12:05 local time
- Place: Qulin, MO
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: UJLG
- Location: 36.5572° N, 90.2047° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5572&lon=-90.2047&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6180J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6180J-2021-04-01) (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: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B
- Reported engine: P&W PT6A SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 16,678 total, 3,795 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA194) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180527012649A

## Narrative

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

ON SUNDAY 5/27/2018 AIR TRACTOR 502B, TAIL# N6180J, SN# 502B-0329, CRASHED WHILE CONDUCTING AERIAL APPLICATION OF AGRICULTURAL FERTILIZERS.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT ABLE TO TAKE-OFF FROM A GRASS/DIRT AIRSTRIP LOCATED OFF COUNTY ROAD 220 SOUTHEAST OF QULIN, MO.  THE PILOT INVOLVED WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE-OFF WITH A DEPARTURE TO THE SOUTH IN THE AIRCRAFT SOMETIME BETWEEN 1130  1200 CDT ON SUNDAY 5/27/2018 WITH APPROXIMATE 2700LBS OF FERTILIZER LOADED ONBOARD AND WITH AN ESTIMATED FUEL LOAD OF BETWEEN 130-140 GALLONS OF JET-A.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A REST WITH SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE APPROXIMATELY 300' SOUTH-SOUTHWEST OF THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT SUBSTAINED THE FOLLOWING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR IS BENT UP UNDER THE FUSELAGE, TAIL SECTION IS CRUSHED AND THE TAIL LANDING GEAR WAS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRCRAFT. LEFT AND RIGHT WINGS HAD SIGNIFICATE DAMAGE, WITH THE LEFT WING AND LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR ABSORBING MOST OF THE IMPACT AND DECELERATION FORCES. THE PT6A WAS SEIZED AS A RESULT OF PROPELLER CONTACT WITH THE GROUND POST CRASH.

THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF DEPARTURE WAS SKY CLEAR, WITH THE WINDS OUT THE NORTH-NORTHEAST AT APPROXIMATELY 3-4 MPH GUSTING TO ABOUT 8 MPH.  THE TEMPERATURE ESTIMATED AT THE TIME TO BE 90F/32C.  THE AIRSTRIP HAS A NORTH-SOUTH ORIENTATION WITH A 3 FOOT DRAINAGE DITCH AT THE SOUTHERN END AND 35 TREES, POWER LINES, AND A ROAD AT THE NORTHERN END.  IT IS SURROUNDED ON ALL SIDES BY CORN AND RICE FIELDS.

## 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 CEN18LA194](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA194), May 27, 2018: Air Tractor AT 502B (N6180J), Qulin, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper weight-and-balance calculations and his decision to take off with the airplane at a high gross weight in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in an attempted takeoff…

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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