# NTSB ANC05CA040: Air Tractor AT-602, N5006V, Panama City, FL, March 2, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 2, 2005, 06:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Panama City, FL - Coordinates: 30.2, -85.666664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2000&lon=-85.6667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 61305 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC05CA040 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61305/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC05CA040 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to remove frost from the airplane which resulted in an inadvertent stall/mush during the takeoff/initial climb, and an in-flight collision with trees. Contributing to the accident were the rough and uneven airstrip, and degraded aircraft performance due to frost on the wing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - lift-off - premature - terrain condition - rough/uneven - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - wing - frost - ice/frost removal from aircraft - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - aircraft performance - deteriorated (contributing factor) - airspeed(vs) - not attained, pilot in command - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The operator reported that the certificated commercial pilot was departing from a private airstrip in a turbine-powered airplane with 3,500 pounds of fertilizer on board. The operator noted that the accident flight was the pilot's first flight of the day, and that there was "heavy frost on the aircraft" prior to departure. During the pilot's takeoff run on the rough and uneven airstrip, the airplane's main wheels struck a bump that bounced the airplane into the air. Once the airplane was airborne, it rolled left, and the left wing struck the ground. The operator wrote, in part: "At this point, the aircraft was trying to gain altitude, but stalled and went into the trees under full power..." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Factual narrative On March 2, 2005, about 0645 Central standard time, a turbine-powered Air Tractor AT-602 airplane, N5006V, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during takeoff from a private airstrip, about 23 miles northeast of Panama City, Florida. The airplane was being operated by Gentry's Flying Service, LLC., Jones, Alabama, as a 14 CFR Part 137, aerial application flight when the accident occurred. The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and company flight following procedures were in effect. According to the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the operator, the accident flight was the pilot's first flight of the day. The operator noted that there was "heavy frost on the aircraft" prior to departure. The airplane was loaded with 3,500 pounds of fertilizer. According to the operator's written statement, during the takeoff run on the rough and uneven airstrip, the airplane's main wheels struck a bump that bounced the airplane into the air. Once the airplane was airborne, it rolled left, and the left wing struck the ground. The operator wrote, in part: "At this point, the aircraft was trying to gain altitude, but stalled and went into the trees under full power..." The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: N5006V (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-602 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 602-0422 - Airframe hours: 8129.6 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-45R 1050 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Gentry's Flying Service, LLC. - Registered owner: Gentry's Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 8, 2005, 86.6 hours before - Departed: Panama City, FL - Destination: Panama City, FL - Flight plan: Company VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 8, 2004; seat: center; flight hours: 27,701 total, 10,400 in this make and model, 26,100 as pilot in command, 87 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 28 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20050302002019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050302002019A), Mar 2, 2005: Airtrc AT602, Clarksville, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot did not ensure that all frost on the wings was removed. Aircraft became airborne due to grass runway geography (rise in the surface similar to a… 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. --- 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.