# NTSB CEN13LA391: Air Tractor AT-402B, N2072D, Ipswich, SD, July 2, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 2013, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Ipswich, SD - Coordinates: 45.455554, -99.010559 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4556&lon=-99.0106&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87382 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA391 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87382/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87382 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA391 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to obtain adequate airspeed during the takeoff roll, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390208), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=0390208), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0390208), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis At the beginning of an aerial application run, the pilot rotated the airplane near the end of the runway; the airplane lifted up from the ground, yawed, and then shuddered. The airplane descended, the left wing contacted the ground, and the airplane slid to a stop. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with an aerodynamic stall during takeoff because the pilot failed to obtain adequate speed to climb the airplane. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 2013, about 1530 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-402B, N2072D, impacted terrain after takeoff from a private strip near Ipswich, South Dakota. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by Tri County Ag Service Inc., under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview with the pilot, he reported that the airplane was loaded with 380 gallons of applicant and 170 gallons of fuel prior to departure. He rotated the airplane near the end of the runway and the airplane lifted off. The airplane then twisted or yawed and he felt the airplane shudder before the left wing dropped and the airplane descended. The left wing contacted the ground and the airplane slid to a stop. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2072D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2072D), registered now, S/N 402B-1268, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-402B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402b) (registry code 0390208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34ag) (registry code 52251, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402B-1268 - Engines: P&W Canada PT6A-34AG turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Tri County Ag Service Inc, doing business as Tri-County Ag Service Inc - Registered owner: Tri County Ag Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: 2SD9, Ipswich, SD - Destination: 2SD9, Ipswich, SD - Airport: 2SD9, Tc Field, runway 36, 2,500 × 28 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2012; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 16,353 total, 828 in this make and model, 206 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: KABR, 25 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 20130702013359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130702013359A), Jul 2, 2013: Air Tractor Inc AT-402B, Ipswich, SD, Substantial damage. On 7-2-13 aircraft N2072D a AT-402B at approximately 1530CDT temp 85 degrees with VFR conditions wind 090 @ 3MPH, the airplane was loaded with 380GALLONS of… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 22, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87382. 391 KB in all. - Pilot statements (item 1, .PDF, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407491&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20statements-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Wreckage overview (FAA photo) (item 2, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407492&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Wreckage%20overview%20(FAA%20photo)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Overview and left wing (item 3, .PDF, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407493&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Overview%20and%20left%20wing-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.