- Date
- May 20, 2010, 18:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place
- D'Hanis, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N3159DAir Tractor AT-301
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Runway excursion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 1, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20100520035409A
- Case key
- 76069
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to properly set the airplane's flaps prior to takeoff.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
While departing from his home field for an aerial application flight, the airplane was not able to get airborne and collided with several fences at the end of the runway. The pilot realized that he had left the flaps in the up position. Both wings sustained substantial rearward crushing. The pilot and operator reported no deficiencies with the airplane prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
While departing from his home field for an aerial application flight, the airplane was not able to get airborne and collided with several fences at the end of the runway. The pilot realized he had left the flaps in the up position. Both wings sustained substantial rearward crushing. The pilot and operator reported no deficiencies with the airplane prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3159D
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0471
- Airframe hours
- 10,129
- Engine
- Garrett TPE331-1-151A, 670 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Rustys Flying Service, doing business as Rusty'S Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Rustys Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 23, 2010
- Departed
- 4TS8 · D'Hanis, TX
- Destination
- 4TS8 · D'Hanis, TX
- Airport
- 4TS8 · Glasscock Field, runway 15, 3,500 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 5, 2009
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 450 total · 105 in this make and model · 420 as pilot in command · 105 in the last 90 days · 105 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 3,100 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- KHDO, 9 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 3, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 458 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3159D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.