- Date
- June 30, 2024, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Helm, MS
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N9185KAir Tractor AT-402
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20240630006469A
- Case key
- 194585
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 failure to maintain control, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Findings · 4
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 pilot stated that while on takeoff from a 2,200 ft partial concrete and grass private runway, the airplane failed to lift off due to density altitude. He initiated a controlled dump of the hopper load near the end of the runway to increase climb performance. The pilot stated that the airplane then stalled and impacted terrain off the departure end of the private strip, which resulted in substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations. The accident occurred after the pilot had conducted several agricultural spray applications with 350 gallon loads. He stated that temperature had reached 96°F and he should have carried a smaller load since conditions were not favorable. At the time of the accident density altitude had increased to about 2,530 ft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9185K
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-402
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402-0908
- Built
- 1993
- Airframe hours
- 15,360
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney PT6 -15, 680 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Love Aero LLC
- Registered owner
- Love Aero LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 31, 2024 · 40 hours before
- Departed
- PVT · Helm, MS
- Destination
- PVT · Helm, MS
- Airport
- PVT · Pvt, runway 18, 2,200 × 150 ft, concrete
- Equipment
- None
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
- 36
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 31, 2024
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,451 total · 1,201 in this make and model · 1,451 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 93 °F, dew point 81 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.14 inHg
- Icing
- Unknown
- Observed at
- KGLH, 6 nm away
- METAR
- KGLH 301535Z AUTO 27005KT 10SM CLR 34/27 A3014 RMK T03400270
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2024, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.4 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.