- Date
- June 25, 1998, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Ipswich, SD
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N31677Air Tractor AT-301
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 19, 1999
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980625015019A
- Case key
- 10931
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 inadequate evaluation of the weather conditions and his failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in a stall/mush. Factors associated with the accident were the tailwind condition and the soft terrain.
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 pilot reported that shortly after rotating during a takeoff to the north, a sudden gust of wind from the south was experienced. He reported the airplane stalled and then 'mushed.' The airplane traveled off the end of the runway into a wet oat field where the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported the local winds were from the west at 6 knots. The 0856 cdt weather observation for Aberdeen, South Dakota, 19 miles east of the accident site, reported the winds were from 230 degrees at 7 knots.
Factual narrative
On June 25, 1998, at 0900 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N31677, operated by Tri County Ag Service, Inc., collided with the terrain and nosed over following a loss of control on takeoff from Rappe Field, a private airstrip, in Ipswich, South Dakota. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The airplane was taking off to the north when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that during the initial takeoff climb, shortly after rotation, a sudden gust of wind from the south was experienced. He reported the airplane stalled and then "mushed." The airplane traveled off the end of the runway into a wet oat field where the airplane nosed over.
The pilot reported the local winds were from the west at 6 knots. The 0856 cdt weather observation for Aberdeen, South Dakota, 19 miles east of the accident site, reported the winds were from 230 degrees at 7 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N31677
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 570
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Tri County Ag Service, Inc.
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 24, 1998
- Departed
- PVT
- Airport
- SD25 · Rappe Field, runway 36, 2,600 × 60 ft, grass/turf
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
- 34
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 2,150 total · 1,100 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ABR, 19 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.