# Accident 20230721009349A: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Plains, KS, July 21, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 2023, 11:00 local time
- Place: Plains, KS
- Airport: Plains Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: RHSG
- Location: 37.2669° N, 100.5837° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2669&lon=-100.5837&mi=10
- Aircraft: N602AA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N602AA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-602 (registry code 0390309, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60AG (registry code 52101, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60ag) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-60AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 30,000 total, 25,000 in this make and model, 320 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN23LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA321) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230721009349A

## Narrative

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

ON 7-21-23 AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 LOCAL TIME OPERATOR WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKE OFF FROM PLAINS KS MUNCIPAL AIRPORT RUNWAY 35. IT HAD RAINED 1”80 HUNDREDTHS THE PREVIOUS NIGHT. THAT MORNING THE AIRSTRIP WAS INSPECTED BY COMPANY PERSONNEL WHO DETERMINED IT WAS TOO WET TO OPERATE LOADED OUT OF THIS AIRPORT. THE DECISION WAS MADE TO FLY THE AIRPLANE OUT EMPTY AND REPOSITION IT TO WORK OUT OF NEARBY LIBERAL AIRPORT FOR THE DAY. HOWEVER, THE STANDING WATER IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STRIP WAS DEEPER THAN IT APPEARED SO DURING TAKEOFF THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO USE THE RIGHT EDGE OF THE RUNWAY TO AVOID THE PUDDLES. DURING TAKE OFF ROLL, THE AIRCRAFT POWERED THROUGH A WATER HOLE WITH THE RIGHT FRONT MAIN TIRE CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO YAW RIGHT DRAGGING THE RIGHT WINGTIP AND SPRAY BOOM THROUGH THE TALL WEEDS LOCATED PAST THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THIS IN TURN PULLED THE PLANE AND WING DOWN CAUSING IT TO GROUND LOOP. 180 DEGRES INTO THE GROUND LOOP, THE TAIL WHEEL THEN DUG INTO THE GROUND. THE MOMENTUM FROM THE AIRCRAFT MOVING BACKWARDS AND THE TAIL WHEEL DIGGING INTO THE GROUND CAUSED THE TAIL EMPANNAGE TO FOLD TO THE RIGHT THUS CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE TAIL, LEFT OUTBOARD WING, TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND ALL SPRAY BOOMS.

## 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 CEN23LA321](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA321), Jul 21, 2023: Air Tractor AT-602 (N602AA), Plains, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control during takeoff from a water-contaminated runway.

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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