- Date
- August 17, 2012, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Gum Neck, NC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5127TAir Tractor AT-402B
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 14, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20120817021909A
- Case key
- 84736
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 airplane control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was the rough condition of the runway.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was taking off from an 80-foot-wide, rough grass airstrip to conduct an aerial application flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to bounce and drift to the right. The airplane’s right wing contacted the adjacent corn crop, and the airplane veered further right into the corn field, where it nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that he did not experience any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was conducting an aerial application flight and taking off from an 80-foot-wide, rough grass private airstrip. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to bounce and drift to the right. The airplane’s right wing contacted corn and it subsequently veered further to the right and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that he did not experience any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5127T
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-402B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402B-1022
- Airframe hours
- 6,290
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-15AC, 680 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Tim Whitfield Aviation Inc
- Registered owner
- Tim Whitfield Aviation Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · July 20, 2012
- Departed
- NONE · Gum Neck, NC
- Destination
- NONE · Gum Neck, NC
- Airport
- NONE · Private, runway 09, 2,600 × 80 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
- 55
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- October 30, 2010
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 16,800 total · 8,000 in this make and model · 16,800 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- FFA, 30 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 26, 2012, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 751 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.