# NTSB CEN23LA346: Air Tractor AT-502, N45453, Halstad, MN, August 2, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 2, 2023, 06:20 local (11:20 UTC) - Place: Halstad, MN - Coordinates: 47.21, -96.49 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.2100&lon=-96.4900&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Air Tractor, FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192785 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA346 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192785/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192785 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA346 ## Probable cause The pilot’s attempt to rotate the airplane without sufficient airspeed which resulted in a lack of climb performance and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt the takeoff with a tailwind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after loading about 100 gallons of jet fuel and about 420 gallons of aerial spray product, he began a takeoff roll on the 2,506 ft asphalt runway. The pilot attempted to rotate the airplane with about 300 ft of runway remaining. Unable to climb out of ground effect, the pilot attempted to jettison the aerial spray product during and after takeoff. The airplane was airborne for about 200 yards before it settled into the soybean field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, empennage, and fuselage. During an interview, the pilot stated that he took off with a tailwind with one notch of flaps and remembers over torquing the engine. He reported that he likely rotated too soon, was slow, and never got out of ground effect. The pilot reported, and a postaccident examination corroborated that, there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N45453](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N45453-2024-11-02), registration cancelled 2024-11-02, S/N 502-0122 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502-0122 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 11012 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PT6-34 AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Airborne Custom Spraying - Registered owner: Top Hat Aerial Applicators Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 7, 2023 - Departed: 8MN2, Halstad, MN - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 8MN2, Aslesen, runway 18, 2,506 × 22 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 30, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 9,500 total, 1,700 in this make and model, 9,200 as pilot in command, 225 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.91 inHg - Observed at: KFAR, 22 nm away - METAR: KFAR 021053Z AUTO 11006KT 10SM CLR 19/17 A2991 ## 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 20230802008139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230802008139A), Aug 2, 2023: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Halstad, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot in command (PIC) departed from private asphalt runway with 480 gallons of chemical. PIC stated the aircraft did not accelerate normally and attempted to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 10, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192785. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16253858&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20N45453_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 470 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16253074&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photos%20CEN23LA346-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16253496&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA346-Rel.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.