# NTSB CEN09CA428: Air Tractor AT-502B, N60023, Reydell, AR, July 10, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 10, 2009, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Reydell, AR - Coordinates: 34.111389, -91.502777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1114&lon=-91.5028&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74252 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA428 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74252/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74252 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA428 ## Probable cause The pilot's inability to maintain control of the airplane when it unexpectedly encountered a whirlwind shortly after takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot took off from a private strip on an aerial application flight. While climbing away from the runway the airplane began a left turning tendency. The pilot suspected the airplane encountered a whirlwind and attempted to maintain control of the airplane. When the airplane entered a "dead air space" the airplane was approximately 5 to 10 feet above the ground. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain and came to a stop in the upright position. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings. An inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. ## Factual narrative The pilot took off from a private strip on an aerial application flight. While climbing away from the runway the airplane began a left turning tendency. The pilot suspected the airplane encountered a whirlwind and attempted to maintain control of the airplane. When the airplane entered a "dead air space" the airplane was approximately 5 to 10 feet above the ground. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain and came to a stop in the upright position. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings. An inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60023](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60023-2017-05-04), registration cancelled 2017-05-04, S/N 502B-0315 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0315 - Airframe hours: 5925 - Engines: P&W PT6A SERIES 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Bear Bayou Ag Service - Registered owner: Bear Bayou Ag Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, March 1, 2009 - Departed: Reydell, AR - Destination: Reydell, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 9,500 total, 3,500 in this make and model, 9,400 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KPBF, 22 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 20090710011849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090710011849A), Jul 10, 2009: Airtrc AT502B, Reydell, AR, Substantial damage. On July 10, 2009, 1230 local, AT-502B, N60023, serial # 502B-315, was taking off from a private airstrip located approx 3 NM se of Reydell, AR to fertilize a… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 27, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74252. 667 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 667 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317994&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.