DFW06CA182

NTSB accident investigation · Air Tractor AT-502B · Marvell, AR · July 12, 2006

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
July 12, 2006, 11:11 local (16:11 UTC)
Place
Marvell, AR
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N90614Air Tractor AT-502B
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 28, 2006
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Little Rock, AR
FAA report
20060712014269A
Case key
64100

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain during takeoff.

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.

In flight collision with objectTakeoff - initial climb
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - bermCause

Analysis

The 17,000-hour commercial pilot was attempting to depart from a private grass airstrip in a turbine powered single-engine agricultural airplane with a full load of chemicals on a local aerial application flight. During the initial takeoff and climb to the east, the airplane's landing gear collided with a levy at the departure end of the 3,000-foot long airstrip, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. There was no fire and the pilot was able to egress the airplane without injury. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, reported the airplane sustained structural damage during the impact with terrain. The pilot reported to the inspector that he had accumulated approximately 4,000 hours in the make and model and about 100 hours in the last 90 days. Performance data for the flight could not be determined due to the unknown particulars of the flight. An automated weather station, located approximately 25 miles from the accident site, reported winds from 190 degrees at 11 knots, and a temperature of 89 degrees Fahrenheit. The density altitude was calculated at 2,116 feet.

Factual narrative

The 17,000-hour commercial pilot was attempting to depart from a private grass airstrip in a turbine powered single-engine agricultural airplane with a full load of chemicals on a local aerial application flight. During the initial takeoff-climb to the east, the airplane's landing gear collided with a levy at the departure end of the 3,000-foot long airstrip, and the airplane subsequently impacted the ground. There was no fire and the pilot was able to egress the airplane without injury. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, reported the airplane sustained structural damage during the impact with terrain. The pilot reported to the inspector that he had accumulated approximately 4,000 hours in the make and model and about 100 hours in the last 90 days. Performance data for the flight could not de determined due to the unknown particulars of the flight. An automated weather station, located approximately 25 miles from the accident site, reported winds from 190 degrees at 11 knots, and a temperature of 89 degrees Fahrenheit. The density altitude was calculated at 2,116 feet.

Aircraft

Registration
N90614
Reported as
Air Tractor AT-502B
Category
Airplane
Serial number
502B-0592
Engine
Pratt & Whitney PT6A, turbo prop
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application · Part 137
Registered owner
Randy Gibbons Flying Service, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Restricted (Special)
Departed
Marvell, AR
Destination
Marvell, AR
Airport
NONE, runway 09, 3,000 × 50 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
59
Injuries
None
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Single
Flight hours
17,000 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 100 in the last 90 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
190° at 11 knots
Visibility
7 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
90 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
KUTA, 25 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.