- Date
- May 24, 2014, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place
- Hunter, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N802KTAir Tractor AT 802A
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- Case key
- 89294
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 downwind takeoff from a grass airstrip, which resulted in inadequate climb performance and the subsequent impact with terrain.
Findings · 6
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 reported the agriculture airplane was loaded with about 5,000 pounds of fertilizer and ¾ tank of fuel; he planned to depart a private grass airstrip which was about 2,600 feet long. The pilot departed the runway to the north, and the airplane's landing gear impacted a levee at the end of the runway. Once the landing gear impacted the levee, the airplane would not gain altitude and the pilot conducted a forced landing in an adjacent field. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage during the landing. The pilot reported there were no preimpact abnormalities with the airplane and added that a gust of wind or whirlwind caused the airplane not to climb. About the time of the accident, the temperature was 87 degrees F with a southern wind about 5-10 knots. It's likely the downwind departure, degraded the loaded airplane's takeoff performance.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported the agriculture airplane was loaded with about 5,000 pounds of fertilizer and ¾ tank of fuel; he planned to depart a private grass airstrip which was about 2,600 feet long. The pilot departed the runway to the north, and the airplane's landing gear impacted a levee at the end of the runway. Once the landing gear impacted the levee, the airplane would not gain altitude and the pilot conducted a forced landing in an adjacent field. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage during the landing. The pilot reported there were no preimpact abnormalities with the airplane and added that a gust of wind or whirlwind caused the airplane not to climb. About the time of the accident, the temperature was 87 degrees F with a southern wind about 5-10 knots. It's likely the downwind departure degraded the loaded airplane's takeoff performance.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N802KT
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT 802A (A)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 802A-0310
- Built
- 2008
- Engine
- Pratt & Witney PT6a, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Lynn Cary, doing business as Hunter Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Lak Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 22, 2014 · 2,973 hours before
- Departed
- Pvt · Hunter, AR
- Destination
- Pvt · Hunter, AR
- Airport
- Pvt · Rabbit Ridge airstrip
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 3,218.1 total · 849.7 in this make and model · 3,168.1 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 160° at 5 knots, gusting 11
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.0 MB in all.