# NTSB FTW03LA141: Air Tractor AT-502B, N60819, Pond Creek, OK, April 28, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 28, 2003, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Pond Creek, OK - Coordinates: 36.691665, -97.726669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6917&lon=-97.7267&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 56910 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56910/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA141 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain adequate airspeed during liftoff resulting in a stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - airspeed - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The 19,368-hour pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, the airplane failed to become airborne from a 2,860-foot asphalt and gravel airstrip. He pulled the emergency hopper dump lever and dumped the liquid fertilizer load. The airplane lifted off the runway, stalled, and dragged the right wingtip on the ground. Subsequently, the airplane exited the departure end of the runway and impacted a 5-foot fence pole with the right wing. The airplane came to rest approximately 150 feet from the departure end of the runway in an upright position when a fire consumed the airplane. ## Factual narrative On April 28, 2003, at 1100 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B tailwheel-equipped agricultural airplane, N60819, was destroyed during takeoff following a loss of control at the Homestead Farms Airport (O66) near Pond Creek, Oklahoma. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to the Homestead Leasing Corporation and was being operated by Homestead Farms Flying Inc., both of Pond Creek. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The 19,368-hour pilot reported to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, that the airplane "was not becoming airborne, and he pulled the emergency hopper dump lever and dumped the load of liquid fertilizer." After releasing the load, the airplane managed to become airborne; however, the airplane stalled and the right wingtip dragged on the ground. Subsequently, the airplane exited the departure end of the 2,860-foot asphalt and gravel runway and impacted a 5-foot fence pole with the right wing. The airplane came to rest approximately 150 feet from the departure end of the runway in an upright position where a fire engulfed the airplane. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that the airplane "failed to obtain flying speeds and stalled on lift off." Under the Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented) section of the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated that he could have "dumped [the fertilizer load] sooner." The FAA inspector reported that the center section of the fuselage was consumed by fire, the tail section was separated from the fuselage, the outboard 4-feet of the right wing was sheered off, and the left wing was bent. The propeller was found separated from the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N60819](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N60819-2005-07-14), registration cancelled 2005-07-14, S/N 502B-0353, built 1996 (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: AT502-353 - Airframe hours: 2480 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Homestead Farms Flying Inc. - Registered owner: Homestead Leasing Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 21, 2003, 200 hours before - Departed: O66, Pond Creek, OK - Airport: O66, Homestead Farms Airport, runway 35, 2,860 × 24 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 19,368 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 19,160 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 8 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: WDG, 19 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 20030428009629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030428009629A), Apr 28, 2003: Airtrc AT502B, Pond Creek, OK, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot reported the aircraft did not accelerate normally on takeoff roll, and that the tail did not come up at the same point on the runway that it… 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.