# NTSB DFW06CA182: Air Tractor AT-502B, N90614, Marvell, AR, July 12, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 12, 2006, 11:11 local (16:11 UTC) - Place: Marvell, AR - Coordinates: 34.5663888888889, -90.9127777777778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5664&lon=-90.9128&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Little Rock, AR - NTSB case key (mKey): 64100 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64100/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA182 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain during takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - berm (cause) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90614), registered now, S/N 502B-0592, built 1999 (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) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0592 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20060712014269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060712014269A), Jul 12, 2006: Airtrc AT502B, Marvell, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 12, 2006, at approximately 1830 CDT, AT-502, N90614, an agricultural airplane, experienced substantial damage while attempting to make a takeoff… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.