- Date
- August 8, 1998, 19:45 local (Aug 9, 1998, 00:45 UTC)
- Place
- Edgeley, ND
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4443SAir Tractor AT-301
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report January 18, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980808020119A
- Case key
- 43637
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 flying airspeed resulting in a stall/mush condition during the initial climb. Contributing factors were the high density altitude, high aircraft weight, and pilot's delayed jettison of the load, as well as the roadway and 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 agricultural aircraft's certificated gross weight was 5,000 pounds. The pilot reported departing at 5,895 pounds. The temperature was 84 degrees F. with light and variable winds, and the pilot reported that the crash was a result of high density altitude. The pilot departed from a 2,485-foot asphalt runway to the west. He stated that 'Upon reaching the end of the runway, I proceeded to pull up. The a/c [aircraft] went into a 3pt attitude. I began to dump my load. The a/c flew in an uncontrolled manner for 100 yds then the right wing struck a gravel road sending me sideways into a cornfield for 300 ft then the a/c came to a stop.'
Factual narrative
On August 8, 1998, at 1945 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N4443S, operated by a commercial pilot, received substantial damage on collision with crops and terrain during takeoff on runway 26 (2,485 feet by 30 feet, asphalt/turf/aggregate friction seal coat) at Edgeley Municipal Airport near Edgeley, North Dakota. As the aircraft lost altitude the pilot realized that the load was too heavy and dropped the load. The aircraft hit the ground twice and rolled into a cornfield. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 Part 137 local agricultural flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated at Edgely Municipal Airport.
In a written statement, the pilot reported the following: "...I attempted a takeoff to the west. I had 40 gallons of fuel and 250 gal. of H2O in the hopper. Upon reaching the end of the runway, I proceeded to pull up. The a/c went into a 3pt attitude. I began to dump my load. The a/c flew in an uncontrolled manner for 100 yds then the right wing struck a gravel road sending me sideways into a cornfield for 300 ft then the a/c came to a stop."
The pilot also reported that the crash was a result of density altitude.
According to a Federal Aviation Inspector, the pilot stated to the highway patrol that he had 320 gallons of product. The aircraft was loaded to 5,895 lbs. The temperate was 84 degrees F with light and variable winds at the time of the accident.
The aircraft had a certified gross weight of 5,000 lbs.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4443S
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 103
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Tom Kiefer
- Registered owner
- Northland Aviation Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Airport
- 51D · Edgeley Municipal, runway 26, 2,485 × 35 ft, asphalt
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
- 27
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 2,800 total · 1,400 in this make and model · 2,600 as pilot in command · 500 in the last 90 days · 150 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- 180° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JMS, 32 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.