- Date
- May 17, 1998, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Parkin, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N502JFAir Tractor AT-502B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 30, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19980517009929A
- Case key
- 20611
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 improper planning/decision, which resulted in his failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance from trees at the departure end of the airstrip. Related factors were: high density altitude and trees at the departure end of the airstrip.
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 stated that while taking off from a dirt strip, the airplane failed to clear a tree line about 200 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. According to local law enforcement officers, the airplane collided with an oak tree at the departure end of the airstrip as the pilot was attempting to takeoff to the south with a load of dry fertilizer. The pilot stated that the engine was performing normally. He estimated that he had 100 gallons of fuel on board. The position of the flaps could not be determined. During an investigation, the density altitude was estimated to be about 2,200 feet.
Factual narrative
On May 17, 1998, at 1530 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B agricultural airplane, N502JF, was destroyed upon impact with a tree and terrain during takeoff near Parkin, Arkansas. The non-instrument rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Hutcherson Flying Service Inc., of Forrest City, Arkansas, under Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating from a private airstrip at the time of the accident.
According to local law enforcement officers that responded to the accident site, the airplane collided with an oak tree at the departure end of the 2,300 foot airstrip while attempting to takeoff to the south with a load of "Urea" dry fertilizer.
In the narrative portion of the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that the airplane broke ground while taking off from the dirt strip; however, the airplane failed to clear a tree line 200 feet beyond the departure end of the turf runway.
The pilot stated that the engine was performing normally. The pilot estimated that he had 100 gallons of fuel on board. The position of the flaps could not be determined.
The NTSB investigator estimated that the density altitude at the time of the accident was 2,200 feet. The pilot's operating handbook does not provide takeoff performance data for the airplane.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N502JF
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-502B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 502-0253
- Airframe hours
- 2,257
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-34, 750 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Hutcherson Flying Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Airport
- NONE, runway 18, 2,300 × 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
- 29
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 3,200 total · 500 in this make and model · 75 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 70° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MEM, 28 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.