- Date
- August 27, 2014, 12:15 local (17:15 UTC)
- Place
- Colusa, IL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N369ABAir Tractor AT 502B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 9, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20140827014139A
- Case key
- 89969
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 did not maintain control of the airplane during takeoff from a grass strip. Contributing was the airplane being loaded beyond its capability for the runway.
Findings · 5
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
According to the pilot, prior to departure the airplane's hopper was "packed full" of seed. He taxied to the turf runway which was soft from recent rain and began the takeoff. The airplane rolled farther down the runway than the previous runs that day so he extended the flaps and the airplane became airborne. Just past the departure end of the runway, the landing gear dragged through the bean plants. The airplane flew another 50 yards until it began to settle into the field; the right wing contacted the beans and the airplane impacted terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The owner stated that the airplane was not loaded beyond the maximum gross weight; it was loaded to 7,000 lbs and the maximum gross weight was 8,000 lbs. It is likely that the airplane was too heavy to operate on the runway and the climb performance was decreased.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, prior to departure the airplane's hopper was "packed full" of seed. He taxied to the turf runway which was soft from recent rain and began the takeoff. The airplane rolled farther down the runway than the previous runs that day so he extended the flaps and the airplane became airborne. Just past the departure end of the runway, the landing gear dragged through the bean plants. The airplane flew another 50 yards until it began to settle into the field; the right wing contacted the beans and the airplane impacted terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The owner stated that the airplane was not loaded beyond the maximum gross weight; it was loaded to 7,000 lbs and the maximum gross weight was 8,000 lbs.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N369AB
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT 502B (B)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 502B-2653
- Built
- 2008
- Airframe hours
- 2,219
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Lindell Aerial Ag Service
- Registered owner
- West Central Aerial LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 20, 2014
- Departed
- IL84 · Colusa, IL
- Destination
- IL84 · Colusa, IL
- Airport
- IL84 · Douglas, runway 09, 2,300 × 80 ft, grass/turf
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
- 25
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 25, 2014
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,564 total · 37 in this make and model · 1,416 as pilot in command · 313 in the last 90 days · 98 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.17 inHg
- Observed at
- KFSW, 11 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.1 MB 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.