- Date
- July 29, 2013, 05:30 local (10:30 UTC)
- Place
- Lombardville, IL
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N36612Air Tractor AT-400A
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 30, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- FAA report
- 20130729014599A
- Case key
- 87639
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 airplane control 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 stated that he lost control of the tailwheel-equipped airplane during the takeoff roll, and the right wing struck a railroad berm. The airplane spun around and came to rest on the railroad tracks adjacent to the runway. The pilot reported there were no preaccident mechanical problems that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
Factual narrative
On July 29, 2013, about 0530 central daylight time, N36612, an Air Tractor Incorporated AT-400A, sustained substantial damage on takeoff from a private grass runway near Lombardville, Illinois. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by Woodley Aerial Leasing Incorporated, Walnut, Illinois. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137.The pilot stated that during the takeoff roll he lost control of the airplane and the right wing struck a railroad berm. The airplane spun around and came to rest on a set of railroad tracks adjacent to the runway. The left wing was substantially damaged. The main landing gear and propeller were also damaged. The pilot reported there were no pre-mishap mechanical problems with the airplane
Aircraft
- Registration
- N36612
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-400A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0343
- Built
- 1981
- Engine
- P&W Canada PT6A-15AG, 680 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Woodley Craig S
- Registered owner
- Woodley Craig S
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Lombardville, IL
- Destination
- Lombardville, IL
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 60
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Rear
- Flight hours
- 12,000 total · 3,000 in this make and model · 100 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 4, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 123 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.