# NTSB ATL97LA088: Air Tractor AT-402B, N6128W, Ridgely, TN, June 23, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 23, 1997, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Ridgely, TN - Coordinates: 36.259727, -89.479057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2597&lon=-89.4791&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 5, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3862 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA088 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3862/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA088 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning in that he failed to account for the high temperature and high density altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. Factors were the tall crops and the ditch. ## 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 - initial climb - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - performance data - not obtained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - temperature,high (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, after taking off from the grass strip, for the fourteenth or fifteenth time that day, with the same load and fuel quantity, he noticed that, after lift off, the 'airplane did not seem to accelerate like normal and began to sink'. He stated he then attempted to dump the 3100 pounds of ammonium nitrate he was carrying. Subsequently, after the doors opened, the airplane stalled, and the airplane collided with the ground; a corn field with plants about six feet tall. The pilot stated that 'before he could reach the power lever, the airplane started turning slightly to the right, and then the left landing gear failed'. No mechanical problems were reported by the pilot. The pilot stated that he believed the light and variable wind and the high temperature contributed to the failure of the airplane to climb. The ambient conditions, at the time of the accident, were the high temperature, high density altitude, and high gross weight of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On June 23, 1997, at 1630 central daylight time, an Air Tractor, AT-402B, N6128W, collided with the ground during takeoff from Dewdrop Airstrip, Ridgely, Tennessee. The aerial application flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, after taking off from the grass strip, for the fourteenth or fifteenth time that day, with the same load and fuel quantity, he noticed the "airplane lifted off to about fifteen to twenty feet above the ground, and that the airplane did not seem to accelerate like normal and began to sink". He stated that he then attempted to dump the 3100 pounds (lb.) of ammonium nitrate he was carrying. Subsequently, after the doors opened, the airplane collided with the ground; a corn field with plants about six feet tall. The pilot stated that "before he could reach the power lever, the airplane started turning slightly to the right, and then the left landing gear failed". The propeller and fuselage collided with the ground, and the airplane came to rest, facing south, straddling a ditch, with its tail into a street. No mechanical problems were reported by the pilot. The pilot stated that he believed the light and variable wind and the high temperature contributed to the failure of the airplane to climb. The density altitude could not be calculated, whereas, the altimeter setting was not available. According to the FAA, the airplane was carrying 3100 lb. of ammonium nitrate and 120 pounds of fuel. The maximum quantity for both are 3200 lb. and 176 lb., respectively. The pilot reported that the left wing was damaged, the left landing gear was detached, the right landing gear was bent, and the tubing was torn and bent at the landing gear attachment points and the side of the hopper. He also stated that the hopper was damaged, the engine mounts were bent, and the propeller and engine were damaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6128W](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6128W), registered now, S/N 402B-1002, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-402B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402b) (registry code 0390208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402B-1002 - Airframe hours: 1324 - Engines: P&W PT6A-15AG 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Rainey Aerial Ag Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 20, 1996, 116 hours before - Departed: PVT - Airport: PVT, Dewdrop Strip, runway 27, 2,100 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 9,769 total, 5,969 in this make and model, 9,697 as pilot in command, 353 in the last 90 days, 109 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F - Observed at: DYR, 15 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 19970623015429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970623015429A), Jun 23, 1997: Airtrc AT402, Dyersburg, TN, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed on takeoff. (-23) Mr. Rainey had just refueled and reloaded the hopper on his aircraft. His fuel was increased to 120 gals with a max capacity… 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.