# Accident 20200608011769A: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Hiawatha, KS, June 8, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 8, 2020, 15:30 local time
- Place: Hiawatha, KS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: WCFG
- Location: 39.8825° N, 95.5183° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8825&lon=-95.5183&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5092J, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5092J-2021-10-02) (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, private pilot, student
- Pilot flight hours: 1,200 total, 120 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN20CA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA221) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200608011769A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT STATED THAT AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT HE LOOKED AT THE WINDSOCK AND SAID THAT THE WINDS HAD DIED DOWN AND ELECTED TO DEPART ON RUNWAY 35. HE STARTED WITH 10 DEGREES OF FLAPS, AND ADDED FLAPS TO GET THE TAIL FLYING. HE STATED IN A PHONE INTERVIEW, THAT THE TAIL DID NOT START FLYING UNTIL ABOUT 3/4TH OF THE RUNWAY WAS USED. AS HE APPROACHED THE END OF THE RUNWAY, HE APPLIED BACK PRESSURE ON THE CONTROL STICK TO ACHIEVE LIFT-OFF. HE SAID THAT HE COULD FEEL THE MAIN WHEELS LEAVE THE RUNWAY BUT SETTLED BACK WITH LESS THAN 500 FEET OF RUNWAY REMAINING. HE ATTEMPTED TO ACHIEVE LIFT-OFF BUT THE AIRPLANE SETTLED BACK ON ALL THREE WHEELS WITH NO RUNWAY REMAINING. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO A REST IN A SOYBEAN FIELD, APPROXIMATELY ½ MILE FROM THE DEPARTURE END.

SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE OCCURRED WHEN THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED UNDER THE EMPENNAGE AND THE PROP STUCK THE GROUND. THE ENGINE MOUNT SEPARATED FROM THE ATTACH POINTS ON THE AIRFRAME AND CANTED TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.

## 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 CEN20CA221](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA221), Jun 8, 2020: Air Tractor AT502 (N5092J), Hiawatha, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to attempt the takeoff with a tailwind in high density altitude conditions.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.