# NTSB CEN12CA375: Air Tractor AT-502, N45379, Ipswich, SD, June 15, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 15, 2012, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Ipswich, SD - Coordinates: 45.451946, -99.010002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4519&lon=-99.0100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Rapid City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84006 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA375 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84006/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84006 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA375 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/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 lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was departing from a 2,400-foot asphalt runway on an aerial application flight. The airplane was loaded to its maximum gross takeoff weight and configured with 10 degrees of flaps prior to the takeoff roll. The pilot reported that a tall stand of trees at the southeast side of the departure end of the runway blocked the wind and seemed to “create a void in the air,” which resulted in an extended takeoff roll. Electing not to abort the takeoff, the pilot added more flaps in an attempt to get the airplane airborne; however, he was unsuccessful. The airplane went off the end of the runway, hit a ditch, and skidded across the road into a field. The landing gear separated from the airframe and the airplane’s fuselage and control surfaces sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation during the attempted takeoff. ## Factual narrative The airplane was departing from a 2,400 foot asphalt runway on an aerial application flight. The airplane was loaded to its maximum gross takeoff weight and configured with 10 degrees of flaps prior to the takeoff roll. The pilot reported that a tall stand of trees at the southeast side of the departure end of the runway blocked the wind and seemed to “create a void in the air” which resulted in an extended takeoff roll. Electing not to abort the takeoff, the pilot added more flaps but the airplane was unable to get airborne. The airplane went off the end of the runway, hit a ditch, and skidded across the road into a field. The landing gear separated from the airframe and the airplane’s fuselage and control surfaces sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that the airplane did not have a mechanical malfunction during the attempted takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45379](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45379-2013-08-15), registration cancelled 2013-08-15, S/N 502-0111 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502-0111 - Airframe hours: 8400 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-6-30 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Tri-County Ag Service Inc - Registered owner: Tri-County Ag Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2011 - Departed: 2SD9, Ipswich, SD - Destination: 2SD9, Ipswich, SD - Airport: 2SD9, TC Field Airport, runway 18, 2,400 × 28 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 7,440 total, 595 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 7 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F ## 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 20120615013629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120615013629A), Jun 15, 2012: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Ipswich, SD, Substantial damage. On June 15, 2012 at 1645 local time an Air tractor 502 registered to tri-county ag service, inc. was involved in an aircraft accident, when the aircraft… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 12, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84006. 688 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 688 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372453&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.