- Date
- July 11, 2014, 08:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place
- Cavalier, ND
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N636LAAir Tractor AT 502B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 24, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20140711011369A
- Case key
- 89669
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 loss of control during the takeoff roll.
Findings · 3
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 airplane was departing a rough, unimproved turf strip for an aerial application flight. During the takeoff, the airplane hit a small turf obstruction and the airplane became airborne prematurely. The airplane settled and the tailwheel collided hard with the ground followed by the main landing gear. The pilot lost control of the airplane as it porpoised and swerved to the right. He was unable to regain control of the airplane before it ground looped and the wing contact the ground. Substantial damage was sustained to the left wing. No preimpact anomalies were detected with the airplane.
Factual narrative
The airplane was departing a rough, unimproved turf strip for an aerial application flight. During the takeoff, the airplane hit a small turf obstruction and became airborne prematurely. The airplane settled and the tail wheel collided hard with the ground followed by the main landing gear. The pilot lost control of the airplane as it porpoised and swerved to the right. He was unable to regain control of the airplane before it ground looped and the wing contact the ground. Substantial damage was sustained to the left wing. No preimpact anomalies were detected with the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N636LA
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT 502B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 502B-0636
- Built
- 2001
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG, 750 lbs thrust, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Hinkle Aviation, doing business as Hinkle Aviation
- Registered owner
- Hinkle Air Spray Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- X · Cavalier, ND
- Destination
- X · Cavalier, ND
- Airport
- X · Private strip
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 15 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.80 inHg
- Observed at
- KHCO, 29 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 9, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 127 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.