# NTSB CEN09CA533: Air Tractor AT-502B, N5003C, Whittemore, IA, August 17, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 17, 2009, 14:20 local (19:20 UTC) - Place: Whittemore, IA - Coordinates: 43.0625, -94.423057 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0625&lon=-94.4231&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 November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-DSM-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74553 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA533 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74553/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74553 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA533 ## Probable cause The pilot's lack of preflight planning and remedial action with resulted in the airplane's inability to climb out of ground effect. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [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) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane settled onto the runway after becoming airborne during takeoff. The airplane became airborne a second time and this time it settled into a bean field off the end of the runway. The airplane then contacted a ditch and crossed a road prior to coming to rest in another bean field. The pilot stated the airplane was at or near gross weight, but he did not calculate the weight and balance. He stated the engine was running normal and he was confident the airplane was going to stay airborne which is why he did not dump the chemical load. ## Factual narrative The airplane settled onto the runway after becoming airborne during takeoff. The airplane became airborne a second time and this time it settled into a bean field off the end of the runway. The airplane then contacted a ditch and crossed a road prior to coming to rest in another bean field. The pilot stated that the airplane was at or near gross weight, but he did not calculate the weight and balance. He stated that the engine was running normal and he was confident the airplane was going to stay airborne which is why he did not dump the chemical load. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5003C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5003C), registered now, S/N 502B-0396 (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-0396 - Airframe hours: 3922 - Engines: P&W PT6A 15AG 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Dennis Meyer - Registered owner: Steier Ag Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 30, 2009, 63 hours before - Departed: PVT, Whittemore, IA - Destination: PVT, Whittemore, IA - Airport: PVT, Steier, runway 33, 2,850 × 70 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; flight hours: 6,958 total, 781 in this make and model, 165 in the last 90 days, 123 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: AXA, 7 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 20090817016479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090817016479A), Aug 17, 2009: Airtrc AT502B, Whittemore, IA, Destroyed. (-23) The aircraft was being used in agricultural spraying operations. The pilot was attempting to takeoff after taking on a load of chemical and fuel. The… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 14, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74553. 575 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 525 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318258&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318260&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Conversation-Master.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.