- Date
- August 22, 2011, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC)
- Place
- Matthews, MO
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N113AAAir Tractor AT-502B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 3, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA-St. Louis FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110822020799A
- Case key
- 81579
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 maintain control of the airplane during 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
The pilot of the aerial application flight reported that the airplane was loaded with 300 gallons of chemical and 100 gallons of fuel. He stated that he powered the airplane up for takeoff, all instrument readings were good, and the airplane took off. He stated that after liftoff, while in ground effect, a wind shear caused the right wing of the airplane to drop, causing the airplane to strike a ditch. The recorded wind speed at an airport located 27 miles from the accident site was 7 knots. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage was buckled and the right wing was bent aft. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the aerial application flight reported that the airplane was loaded with 300 gallons of chemical and 100 gallons of fuel. He stated that all of the instrument readings were good when he powered the airplane up for takeoff. He stated that after liftoff, while in ground effect, a wind shear caused the right wing of the airplane to drop, and the airplane struck a ditch. The recorded wind speed at an airport located 27 miles from the accident site was 7 knots. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed the fuselage was buckled, and the right wing was bent aft. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N113AA
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-502B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 502B-2704
- Airframe hours
- 912
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Ag Air Inc
- Registered owner
- Peter C. Malone
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · August 3, 2011
- Departed
- Matthews, MO
- Destination
- Matthews, MO
- Airport
- PVT · Private Airstrip, runway 18, grass/turf
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 23, 2010
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 2,100 total · 470 in this make and model · 2,054 as pilot in command · 300 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 0 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 90° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- KCGI, 27 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 30, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 647 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.