# NTSB CHI05CA245: Air Tractor AT-502, N4550N, Hector, MN, August 29, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 28, 2005, 19:30 local (Aug 29, 2005, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Hector, MN - Coordinates: 44.547222, -95.082221 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5472&lon=-95.0822&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Minneapolis, MN FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62502 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05CA245 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62502/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05CA245 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to achieve adequate airspeed on takeoff which resulted in the airplane entering a stall/mush when it flew out of ground effect while crossing a large drainage ditch on takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - encountered, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The airplane collided with the terrain and a corn crop during takeoff on a 2,800 foot long runway. The pilot reported he noticed that the airplane was not developing full power during the takeoff. He reported he was about half way down the runway at the time. He reported, "As I lifted off the end of the runway I was just barely flying. I had to cross a large drainage ditch thus losing ground effect." The pilot reported that the main gear touched down and the tail wheel hit the bank on the far side of the drainage ditch prior to the airplane coming to rest in a corn field. The airplane was loaded with 450 pounds of insecticide at the time of the accident. The pilot reported the local winds were from 300 degrees at 2 to 3 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 2005, at 1930 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, collided with the terrain and a corn crop during takeoff on runway 12 (2,800 feet by 50 feet, asphalt) at the Hector Municipal Airport (1D6), Hector, Minnesota. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported he noticed that the airplane was not developing full power during the takeoff. He reported he was about half way down the runway at the time. He reported, "As I lifted off the end of the runway I was just barely flying. I had to cross a large drainage ditch thus losing ground effect." The pilot reported that the main gear touched down and the tail wheel hit the bank on the far side of the drainage ditch prior to the airplane coming to rest in a corn field. The airplane was loaded with 450 pounds of insecticide at the time of the accident. The pilot reported the local winds were from 300 degrees at 2 to 3 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4550N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4550N), registered now, S/N 502-0131, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-502 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502-0131 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT-6-15 680 hp turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Newberg Sky Spray - Registered owner: Newberg Sky Spray, LLC. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2004 - Departed: 1D6, Hector, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 14,000 total, 3,100 in this make and model, 350 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20050828020889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050828020889A), Aug 28, 2005: Airtrc AT502, Hector, MN, Substantial damage. (-23) Airman was counseled concerning powerplant producing rated torque due to hot section coming up on a hot section inspection. The slight down wind, 3 KTS,… 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.