# NTSB ATL01LA055: Air Tractor AT-602, N50997, Dunlap, TN, May 14, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 14, 2001, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Dunlap, TN - Coordinates: 35.370365, -85.380722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3704&lon=-85.3807&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA--FSDO Nashville - NTSB case key (mKey): 52274 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA055 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52274/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA055 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to obtain liftoff airspeed for undetermined reasons. A factor was tree stumps on the departure end of the takeoff area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Overrun, takeoff - roll/run - object - tree(s) (cause) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - airspeed(vlof) - not obtained (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - roll/run - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis After reloading the airplane with chemicals, the pilot attempted a takeoff from the dirt staging airstrip. The airplane never successfully lifted off of the ground but collided with tree stumps on the departure end of the dirt strip and burst into flames. The airplane was destroyed and a functional examination of the engine was not accomplished. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot. ## Factual narrative On May 14, 2001, at 1430 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N50997, collided with the ground, and burst into flames shortly after an attempted takeoff from a dirt strip on Cagle Mountain in Dunlap, Tennessee. The agricultural flight was operated by Brandon Air Inc., under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was destroyed; the pilot received no injuries. The agricultural flight departed Dunlap, Tennessee, at 1430 hours. According to the operator, the pilot was conducting an aerial application operation in the Cagle Mountain area. After reloading the airplane with chemicals, the pilot attempted a takeoff from the dirt staging airstrip. During the rotation phase of the takeoff, the pilot stated, "I got ready to rotate, it was a little slow and started to come off, and then settled back at the departure end of the strip." The airplane collided with tree stumps, which were located on the end of the dirt strip. The pilot exited the airplane after it came to a complete stop. Seconds later the airplane burst into flames.. During a telephone conversation with the owner of Brandon Air Inc, he stated there was another Air Tractor AT-602 and an Air Tractor AT-802 operating in the area and staging from the same dirt strip as the accident airplane. The other two airplanes took off immediately before N50997 without incident. The other two airplanes landed, resumed spraying operations, after the fire was extinguished and the wreckage was removed. All three airplanes were using the same fuel source, and there was no fuel contamination found in either of the other airplanes. The pilot had been flying the same airplane for two weeks before the day of the accident, and no mechanical problems were previously reported. According to the pilot, the airplane was a few hundred pounds under the maximum gross weight; there was approximately 100 gallons of fuel on board, and loaded 2/3 full with a dry fertilizer. At the time of the accident, the wind was reported as light. According to the pilot, on the takeoffs prior to the accident his ground roll was approximately 3/4 of the 2200 foot runway. At the time of the accident the density altitude was approximately 3500 feet. The pilot did not report a mechanical problem with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N50997](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N50997-2002-02-06), registration cancelled 2002-02-06, S/N 602-0506, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-602 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-66-series) (registry code 52118, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 602-0506 - Airframe hours: 1800 - Engines: P&W PT6A-60 1050 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Thrash Aviation, doing business as Brandon Air Inc. - Registered owner: Jim Thrash - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 9, 2000, 400 hours before - Departed: Dunlap, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 3, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 75 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KCNA, 35 nm away ## 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 20010514009909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010514009909A), May 14, 2001: Airtrc AT602, Dunlap, TN, Destroyed. (-23)See attached pilot's statement. (.19)on may 14, 2001, at 1430 central daylight time, an air tractor AT-602, N50997, collided with the ground, and burst… 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.