- Date
- August 29, 2005, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Davenport, ND
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N3024UAyres S2R-G10
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Fargo, ND FSDO
- FAA report
- 20050829024119A
- Case key
- 62415
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 failed to gain suffient altitude during takeoff in order to clear the corn crop at the end of the runway. A factor associated with the accident was the corn crop.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The airplane collided with a corn crop on takeoff. The pilot reported he was taking off to the northeast with a full chemical load when the accident occurred. He stated that the airplane became airborne when he was approximately halfway down the 2,640 foot long grass airstrip, but it didn't accelerate. He stated he "eased back on the stick but nothing happened." He stated he then pulled back on the stick in an attempt to clear the corn field at the end of the airstrip, but the airplane did not climb. The airplane collided with the eight to nine foot tall corn crop. Inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have prevented the airplane from gaining altitude.
Factual narrative
On August 29, 2005, at 1530 central daylight time, an Ayres S2R-G10, N3024U, collided with a corn crop and the terrain while taking off from a private airstrip in Davenport, North Dakota. The pilot was not injured and 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 to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector that he was taking off to the northeast with a full chemical load when the accident occurred. He stated that the airplane became airborne when he was approximately halfway down the 2,640 foot long grass airstrip, but it didn't accelerate. He stated he "eased back on the stick but nothing happened." He stated he then pulled back on the stick in an attempt to clear the corn field at the end of the airstrip, but the airplane did not climb. The airplane collided with the eight to nine foot tall corn crop.
Post accident inspection of the airplane by an inspector from the FAA Fargo, North Dakota, Flight Standards District Office, did not reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have prevented the airplane from gaining altitude. The pilot reported on the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3024U
- Reported as
- Ayres S2R-G10
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- G10-108
- Airframe hours
- 3,472
- Engine
- Garrett TPE331, 941 hp, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- James F. Plath
- Registered owner
- James F. Plath
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 1, 2005
- Departed
- PVT · Davenport, ND
- Destination
- PVT
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
- 54
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Flight hours
- 6,308 total · 3,447 in this make and model · 6,246 as pilot in command · 203 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.89 inHg
- Observed at
- FAR
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N3024U · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.