CEN10LA555

NTSB accident investigation · Aero Commander S2R · Pocahontas, AR · September 23, 2010

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 23, 2010, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC)
Place
Pocahontas, AR
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N8820QAero Commander S2R
Defining event
Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report May 16, 2011
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA Flight Standards District Office
FAA report
20100923046969A
Case key
77383

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff in a timely manner. Contributing to the accident was the weight of the airplane and the high ambient temperature.

Findings · 4

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.

Aircraft capability: maximum weightAircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceededAero Commander S2R: 1 caseAll aircraft: 152 casesProbable cause
Temp/humidity/pressure: high temperatureEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipmentAero Commander S2R: 1 caseAll aircraft: 30 casesProbable cause
Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitudeEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipmentAero Commander S2R: 1 caseAll aircraft: 278 casesProbable cause

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

According to the pilot, the airplane was fully loaded with chemicals for the aerial application flight, and the ambient temperature was high. As the airplane reached the end of the runway during the takeoff roll and lifted off, it struck an embankment, impacted a field, and caught fire.

Factual narrative

On September 23, 2010, approximately 0945 central daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R, N8820Q, operated by Kirk Aviation, was destroyed when it struck an embankment and caught fire on takeoff from a private airstrip 3 miles north of Pocahontas, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 137 without a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant on board, was seriously injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot was asked submit NTSB Form 6120.1/2, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report. No report was ever received. The following is based on a telephone conversation with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who went to the accident site. The pilot told the inspector that the airplane was fully loaded and the ambient temperature was high. As the airplane reached the end of the runway and lifted off, it struck an embankment, impacted a field, and burned.

Aircraft

Registration
N8820Q
Reported as
Aero Commander S2R
Category
Airplane
Serial number
1520R
Engine
Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Fire
On-Ground
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Operator
Kirk Aviation, Inc.
Registered owner
Kirk Aviation, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Departed
NONE · Pocahontas, AR
Destination
NONE · Pocahontas, AR
Airport
NONE · Private Airstrip

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
54
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Last flight review
July 20, 2009
Seat
Center
Flight hours
3,640 total · 455 in this make and model · 74 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
190° at 14 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
81 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter
30.11 inHg
Observed at
ARG

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 55 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 N8820Q · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.