- Date
- June 19, 2010, 15:10 local (20:10 UTC)
- Place
- Virden, IL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5120EAir Tractor AT-402B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Runway excursion
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 21, 2010
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20100619038369A
- Case key
- 76431
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 decision to take off from a wet grass runway at an airplane weight and density altitude that precluded a normal takeoff and climb.
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
The pilot of the aerial application flight was attempting a takeoff when the airplane hit a bump 2/3 of the way down the runway, became airborne, and then descended into a corn field. The airplane impacted the cornfield upright and sideways, resulting in a deformed fuselage and substantial damage. The pilot stated that he could have prevented the accident by not taking off at a heavy weight on a wet runway. The density altitude at the time of the accident was approximately 2,854 feet mean sea level.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the aerial application flight attempted a takeoff on runway 27 (2640 feet by 100 feet, turf) during which the airplane hit a bump 2/3 down the runway, became airborne, and then descended into a corn field. The airplane impacted the cornfield upright and sideways resulting in a deformed fuselage and substantial damage. The pilot stated in his recommendation not to takeoff at a heavy weight on a wet runway. The density altitude at the time of the accdient was approximately 2,854 feet mean sea level.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5120E
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-402B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402B-1052
- Airframe hours
- 3,464
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- C & L Holzwarth Inc
- Registered owner
- C & L Holzwarth Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 1, 2009
- Departed
- 25IL · Virden, IL
- Destination
- 25IL · Virden, IL
- Airport
- 25IL · Bob Davis Flying Service Airpo, runway 27, 2,640 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 20, 2010
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 4,300 total · 1,200 in this make and model · 4,200 as pilot in command · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- SPI, 22 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 687 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.