# NTSB FTW04CA141: Air Tractor AT-502, N61407, Tarzan, TX, May 26, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 26, 2004, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Tarzan, TX - Coordinates: 32.597778, -101.123054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5978&lon=-101.1231&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 September 29, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59321 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04CA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59321/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04CA141 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed suitable for flight. Contributing factors were the high density altitude and tail wind condition. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The airplane began to settle back down on the ground just after take-off from runway N (a 2,650-feet long by 150-feet wide turf runway). The 3,370-hour pilot emptied the load of chemicals, but was still unable to gain altitude. The automated surface observing station at Midland International Airport (MAF), near Midland, Texas, located approximately 12 miles southwest of the airport, reported winds at 170 at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 88 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 63 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.88 inches of Mercury. The density altitude was calculated as 5,320 feet based on the outside air temperature of 31 degrees Celsius, a dew point of 17 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.88 inches of mercury. The field elevation at the private airstrip was 2,740 feet msl. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2004, approximately 1130 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502 single-engine agricultural airplane, N61407, was substantially damaged when it impacted a berm at the departure end of the runway following a loss of control during take-off from Ryan Aerodrome (7TX7), a private field near Tarzan, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, the airplane began to settle back down on the ground just after take-off from runway N (a 2,650-feet long by 150-feet wide turf runway) . The 3,370-hour pilot emptied the load of chemicals, but was still unable to gain altitude. The right wing impacted the ground first, followed by the left main landing gear. The airplane came to rest approximately 180 degrees from the direction of take-off. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the left main landing gear and tailwheel separated from the airplane. The outboard section of the right wing was bent up and aft approximately 45 degrees. The left wing-tip was wrinkled and the left aileron was almost completely separated. The rudder and elevator trim tab was completely separated from the airplane. All three propeller blades exhibited S-bending. The automated surface observing station at Midland International Airport (MAF), near Midland, Texas, located approximately 12 miles southwest of the airport, at 1153, reported winds at 170 at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 88 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 63 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.88 inches of Mercury. The density altitude was calculated as 5,320 feet based on the outside air temperature of 31 degrees Celsius, a dew point of 17 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.88 inches of mercury. The field elevation at the private airstrip was 2,740 feet msl. Despite repeated attempts by the NTSB investigator in charge (IIC) to acquire a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) from the pilot, one was not obtained. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61407](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61407-2006-03-14), registration cancelled 2006-03-14, S/N 502B-0313, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-502 - 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-0313 - Airframe hours: 4837 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG 500 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Cooper Flying Service, doing business as Aerial Application - Registered owner: Roy Cooper - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 18, 2003, 113 hours before - Departed: NONE, Tarzan, TX - Destination: NONE - Airport: NONE, Cooper Flying Service Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 30, 2003; seat: center; flight hours: 3,370 total, 910 in this make and model, 210 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 10 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: MAF ## 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 20040526007819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040526007819A), May 26, 2004: Airtrc AT502B, Tarzan, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On may 26, 2004, at approximately 1130 hours CDT, N61407, an air tractor 502B, serial number 502B-0313, took off from the cooper flying services' Private… 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.