# NTSB CHI07CA268: Air Tractor AT-502B, N61352, Cooksville, IL, August 12, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 12, 2007, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place: Cooksville, IL
- Coordinates: 40.89722, -88.71389
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8972&lon=-88.7139&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66638
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA268
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66638/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA268

## Probable cause

The partial loss of engine power during the takeoff roll for undetermined reasons and the pilot's unsuccessful compensation for the tailwind conditions.  Factors contributing to the accident were the tailwind and the corn crop.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - roll/run
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - compensation for wind conditions - not successful, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The airplane sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the grass airstrip when it failed to clear the corn at the end of the airstrip.  The pilot reported that he was departing on his fourth flight of the day.  The airplane was loaded with 425 gallons of water and chemicals and 150 gallons of fuel.  He reported that he checked the wind before takeoff and it appeared there was no wind.  He reported that during his takeoff roll, "I encountered a substantial gust of wind from the rear that prevented me from keeping the airplane airborne."  He also stated that, "I believe that if this engine had been producing its maximum rated horsepower, the gust of wind would not have been the deciding factor in this take off."

## Factual narrative

The airplane sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the grass airstrip when it failed to clear the corn at the end of the airstrip.  The pilot reported that he was departing on his fourth flight of the day.  The airplane was loaded with 425 gallons of water and chemical and 150 gallons of fuel.  He reported that he checked the wind before takeoff and it appeared there was no wind.  He reported that during his takeoff roll, "I encountered a substantial gust of wind from the rear that prevented me from keeping the airplane airborne."  He also stated that, "I believe that if this engine had been producing its maximum rated horsepower, the gust of wind would not have been the deciding factor in this take off."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61352](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61352), registered now, S/N 502B-0311 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-502B
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 0311
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34HG turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Tidwell Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: Cooksville, IL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 11,000 total, 5,300 in this make and model, 500 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 15 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 20070812021979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070812021979A), Aug 12, 2007: Airtrc AT502B, Cooksville, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) During takeoff to the south on a north/south oriented unimproved airstrip the pilot was unable to attain enough altitude to clear a corn crop at the…

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.

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