What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On June 5, 2023, an AT-502B, Air tractor was on his 4th dispensing flight for the day. The private runway he departed from was 2500FT long. The aircraft took on 50 gal of fuel and 400 gal of chemical (approx. 3480 lbs). During takeoff the aircraft accelerated with 2/3 flap setting, however about 2/3 down the runway the pilot attempted to force the aircraft go airborne, however the aircraft settled back to the surface. At this time the pilot added full flaps, however by this time the aircraft was at the end of the runway. The aircraft momentarily went airborne but was unable to clear trees approximately 60FT. The aircraft contacted the trees and turned inverted. There were no injuries reported by the pilot.
As the FAA filed it
ON JUNE 5, 2023, AN AT-502B, AIR TRACTOR WAS ON HIS 4TH DISPENSING FLIGHT FOR THE DAY. THE PRIVATE RUNWAY HE DEPARTED FROM WAS 2500FT LONG. THE AIRCRAFT TOOK ON 50 GAL OF FUEL AND 400 GAL OF CHEMICAL (APPROX. 3480 LBS). DURING TAKEOFF THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED WITH 2/3 FLAP SETTING, HOWEVER ABOUT 2/3 DOWN THE RUNWAY THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO FORCE THE AIRCRAFT GO AIRBORNE, HOWEVER THE AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK TO THE SURFACE. AT THIS TIME THE PILOT ADDED FULL FLAPS, HOWEVER BY THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT WAS AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT MOMENTARILY WENT AIRBORNE BUT WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR TREES APPROXIMATELY 60FT. THE AIRCRAFT CONTACTED THE TREES AND TURNED INVERTED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED BY THE PILOT.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.