# NTSB CEN12CA568: Air Tractor AT-502B, N6047G, Bogata, TX, August 17, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 17, 2012, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Bogata, TX - Coordinates: 33.470554, -95.213607 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4706&lon=-95.2136&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Dallas FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84775 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA568 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84775/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84775 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA568 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in the airplane’s loading beyond its maximum gross weight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area length](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he completed two successful aerial application flights from the same 2,000-foot turf runway before the accident flight. For the next chemical application, the airplane was loaded on downsloping terrain, in a tail-high attitude, just before the accident flight. This position may have affected the accuracy of the sight gauge. The pilot was distracted during the chemical loading and refueling and did not recheck the level of the chemical in the hopper. In a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that after loading, the airplane exceeded its maximum gross weight by about 500 pounds. The temperature was about 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind was from 270 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot departed with 10 degrees of flaps. The airplane became airborne but did not get out of ground effect. According to the pilot, the airplane “sagged” and the left main landing gear hit an embankment. The airplane landed in the adjacent cornfield and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that a dust devil may have affected the airplane’s performance. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he completed two successful aerial application flights from the same 2,000-foot turf runway before the accident flight. The pilot reported that the airplane was not on level terrain when the chemical was added to the load prior to the accident flight, which might have affected the accuracy of the sight gauge. The pilot was distracted during the loading of the chemical and refueling, and he did not recheck the level of the chemical in the hopper. He stated that the airplane's maximum gross weight was overloaded by about 500 pounds. The temperature was about 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind was from 270 degrees at 5 knots. He departed from runway 18 with 10 degrees of flaps. The airplane became airborne, but it did not get out of ground effect. He stated that a dust devil might have affected the airplane. According to the pilot, the airplane “sagged” (lost lift) and the left main landing gear hit an embankment. The airplane landed in the adjacent cornfield, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane prior to the impact with the terrain. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6047G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6047G-2014-12-22), registration cancelled 2014-12-22, S/N 502B-0266, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0266 - Engines: P&W PT6A SERIES 500 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Dan Aero Inc - Registered owner: Dan Aero Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Bogata, TX - Destination: Bogata, TX - Airport: Private Airstrip, runway 18, 2,000 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 38,000 total, 27,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °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 20120817019089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120817019089A), Aug 17, 2012: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Bogata, TX, Substantial damage. On 08/20/2012 this office was informed that N6047G was involved in an accident on 08/17/2012. N6047G was operating out of a grass strip near Bogata Texas. The… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 6, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84775. 273 KB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40382827&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383041&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40383004&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.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.