# Accident 20230605008999A: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Bakersfield, CA, June 5, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 5, 2023, 16:01 local time
- Place: Bakersfield, CA
- Airport: Wheeler Ridge Aviation
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: RQLG
- Location: 35.0828° N, 119.0027° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0828&lon=-119.0027&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6174W, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6174W-2025-05-04) (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: 5,848 total, 770 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA217) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230605008999A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 WPR23LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA217), Jun 5, 2023: Air Tractor AT-502B (N6174W), Bakersfield, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper use of flaps during the takeoff sequence which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with trees.

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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