- Date
- July 7, 1995, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Elaine, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N91282Air Tractor AT-502
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 27, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950707017579A
- Case key
- 19487
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 did not maintain a positive rate of climb.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from a grass strip the aircraft could not maintain altitude and settled to the ground coming to rest inverted. Examination of the aircreft did not reveal any anomalies that could have accounted for the inability to maintain a climb.
Factual narrative
On July 7, 1995, at 1600 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, N91282, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following initial climb near Elaine, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. The aircraft was operated by Flying Service, Inc., and no flight plan was filed.
In an interview conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the aircraft could not maintain altitude and settled to the ground coming to rest inverted.
Examination of the aircraft revealed damage to the engine, propeller, empennage, and both wings. Further examination did not reveal any anomalies that could have accounted for the inability to maintain a climb.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N91282
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-502
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 5020196
- Airframe hours
- 1,800
- Engine
- P&W PT6-34, 780 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Flying Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · June 10, 1995
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
- 30
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 6,080 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.