# NTSB ERA09CA428: Air Tractor AT502, N502AJ, Dundee, MS, July 29, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 29, 2009, 10:50 local (15:50 UTC) - Place: Dundee, MS - Coordinates: 34.684444, -90.341941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6844&lon=-90.3419&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74402 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA428 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74402/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74402 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA428 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft loading event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 84 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/010/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was departing to the north, from a private concrete airstrip, for the purpose of conducting an agricultural application flight. The airplane was loaded with 400 gallons of fungicide, and contained 110 gallons of fuel on board. Shortly after becoming airborne, the airplane began to settle back toward the runway. The pilot attempted to dump the fungicide; however, the airplane settled into a soybean field and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage, fuselage, wings, and engine firewall. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions and examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any anomalies. The nearest weather reporting station, located approximately 12 miles north of the accident site, reported winds from 170 degrees at 6 knots, and a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, about the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot was departing to the north, from a private concrete airstrip, for the purpose of conducting an agricultural application flight. The airplane was loaded with 400 gallons of fungicide, and contained 110 gallons of fuel on board. Shortly after becoming airborne, the airplane began to settle back toward the runway. The pilot attempted to dump the fungicide; however, the airplane settled into a soybean field and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage, fuselage, wings, and engine firewall. The pilot stated that he did not experience any mechanical malfunctions and examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any anomalies. The nearest weather reporting station, located approximately 12 miles north of the accident site, reported winds from 170 degrees at 6 knots, and a temperature of 27 degrees Celsius, about the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N502AJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N502AJ-2017-06-07), registration cancelled 2017-06-07, S/N 5020054, built 1989 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT502 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 5020054 - Airframe hours: 9626 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 750 lbs thrust turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Kevin Bailey Jones - Registered owner: Tunica Air, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 12, 2009 - Departed: NONE, Dundee, MS - Destination: NONE, Dundee, MS - Airport: NONE, Paul's Airstrip, runway 36, 1,800 × 16 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 4, 2008; seat: single; flight hours: 6,200 total, 1,982 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 308 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 20 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: UTA, 12 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 20090729013179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090729013179A), Jul 29, 2009: Airtrc AT502, Dundee, MS, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft on take off became airborne then lost lift. Aircraft crashed in a muddy soy bean field off of the end of the runway. Upon impact the airacraft… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 18, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74402. 792 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 713 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318666&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Information from FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318480&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Information%20from%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318481&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF 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.