# NTSB CEN18LA194: Air Tractor AT 502B, N6180J, Qulin, MO, May 27, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2018, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Qulin, MO - Coordinates: 36.55722, -90.204719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5572&lon=-90.2047&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA STL FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97332 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97332/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97332 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA194 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper weight-and-balance calculations and his decision to take off with the airplane at a high gross weight in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in an attempted takeoff that exceeded the airplane’s performance capability. Also causal was the pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff while sufficient runway remained. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: weight/balance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [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-502B, 15 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the agricultural airplane was loaded with 2,700 lbs of product and 130 to 140 gallons of fuel. He stated that the engine gauges had normal indications but that, during the takeoff, the airplane's tailwheel was still on the ground when the airplane was about 3/4 down the runway, and the airplane did not become airborne before the end of the runway. When the airplane reached the end of the runway, he applied full flaps to "jump" a drainage ditch at the end. The airplane then impacted the ground on the opposite side of the ditch and incurred substantial damage to the wings, landing gear, aft fuselage, and tail surfaces. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the reported fuel and product load on board, the airplane's calculated gross weight was about 523-574 lbs over the airplane's maximum gross weight. In addition, the density altitude at the time of the accident was about 2,200 ft. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2018, about 1200 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT502B, N6180J, impacted terrain during takeoff from a private airstrip near Qulin, Missouri. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by Danny's Air Agri Service, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the airplane was loaded with 2,700 lbs of chemical and he was using an airstrip owned by one of his customers. He noted that he had been using the airstrip for the past 14 years and knew how the airplane performed when taking off from this airstrip. He stated that the engine gauges were all indicating normal, but during the takeoff, the tailwheel of the airplane was still on the ground after the airplane had used about 3/4 of the runway length. At this point, he checked the engine instruments, and all were still indicating within normal parameters. When the airplane reached the end of the runway it was still not airborne, and the pilot applied full flaps to "jump" the ditch at the end of the runway. The airplane crossed the ditch and impacted the ground on the other side of the ditch. Examination of the airplane after the accident confirmed substantial damage to both wings, landing gear, aft fuselage and tail surfaces. No preimpact anomalies were found that would have prevented normal operation, and the pilot didn't report any mechanical issues encountered during the flight. The turf runway had a north-south orientation and was about 2,500 ft long. The takeoff was performed to the south. At the south end of the runway was a drainage ditch which separated two farm fields. The pilot reported to Federal Aviation Administration inspectors that the airplane had between 130 and 140 gallons of fuel and 2,700 lbs of chemical on-board. Based on a fuel density of 6.7 lbs per gallon, and the airplane's empty weight of 4,778 lbs, the airplane's takeoff weight was calculated to be between 8,523 and 8,574 lbs. The maximum gross weight of the airplane was listed as 8,000 lbs. At 1153, the recorded weather conditions at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport, Poplar Bluff, Missouri, about 12 nm north of the accident site were wind from 210 degrees at 5 kts,10 sm visibility, clear skies, temperature 30° C, dewpoint 22° C, and an altimeter setting 29.92 inches of mercury. Based on the reported weather conditions, the calculated density altitude was about 2,200 ft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6180J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6180J-2021-04-01), registration cancelled 2021-04-01, S/N 502B-0329, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502B (B) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0329 - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 10219 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-45R 1100 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Dannys Air Agri Service Inc - Registered owner: Dannys Air Agri Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 2018 - Departed: PVT, Qulin, MO - Destination: PVT, Qulin, MO - Airport: PVT, Private, runway 18, 2,500 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 5, 2017; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 17,616 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: POF, 12 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20180527012649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180527012649A), May 27, 2018: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, Qulin, MO, Substantial damage. On Sunday 5/27/2018 Air tractor 502B, tail# N6180J, sn# 502B-0329, crashed while conducting aerial application of agricultural fertilizers. The aircraft was… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97332. 7.2 MB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478629&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Weight and Balance Calculations (item 2, .PDF, 279 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478630&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weight%20and%20Balance%20Calculations-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 57 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478631&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Maintenance Record Excerpt (item 4, .PDF, 994 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478632&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Maintenance%20Record%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Excerpt from Airplane Manuals (item 5, .PDF, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Excerpt%20from%20Airplane%20Manuals-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.