# NTSB CEN14CA258: Air Tractor AT 802A, N802KT, Hunter, AR, May 24, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 24, 2014, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Hunter, AR - Coordinates: 35.067222, -91.091392 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0672&lon=-91.0914&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 July 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14CA258 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89294/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89294 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA258 ## Probable cause The pilot's downwind takeoff from a grass airstrip, which resulted in inadequate climb performance and the subsequent impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 11 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [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-802A, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high temperature](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wall/barricade](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022027): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022027/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022027/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N802KT-2024-05-31), registration cancelled 2024-05-31, S/N 802A-0310 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 802A (A) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-67AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-67ag) (registry code 52211, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802A-0310 - Year built: 2008 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; 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 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 18, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89294. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120 (item 1, .PDF, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414218&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120-Redacted.PDF - Area weather report (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414219&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Area%20weather%20report-Master.PDF - Accident site overview (item 3, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20site%20overview-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.