# NTSB CEN11CA589: Air Tractor AT-502B, N113AA, Matthews, MO, August 22, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 22, 2011, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Matthews, MO - Coordinates: 36.73722, -89.586387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7372&lon=-89.5864&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 3, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-St. Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81579 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA589 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81579/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81579 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA589 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [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: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-502B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-2704 - Airframe hours: 912 - Engines: 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. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20110822020799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110822020799A), Aug 22, 2011: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Matthews, MO, Destroyed. The pilot initiated the takeoff roll at the north end of a north-south runway. The runway is approximately 3,000 feet long, with the north half paved asphalt… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 30, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81579. 647 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 647 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40354484&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.