# NTSB GAA15CA117: Air Tractor AT 401, N4549E, Wall, SD, June 9, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 9, 2015, 16:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Wall, SD - Coordinates: 44.106666, -102.348052 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.1067&lon=-102.3481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 29, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 91350 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91350/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91350 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA117 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adjust the airplane's useful load to compensate for the high temperature, which resulted in an insufficient climb rate to clear surrounding terrain, and a runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high temperature](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015/cases.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 152 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-401, 10 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390204), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during takeoff from a private grass airstrip, the airplane would not climb above terrain at the end of the runway and impacted the ground coming to rest in a wheat field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right aileron, and fuselage. The pilot reported the outside air temperature at the time of the accident was 91 degrees Fahrenheit and the airplane was loaded near its maximum gross takeoff weight of 6,000 pounds. The pilot stated, "The load was too heavy for the weather conditions at this time". The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during takeoff from a private grass airstrip, the airplane would not climb above terrain at the end of the runway and impacted the ground coming to rest in a wheat field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, right aileron, and fuselage. The pilot reported the outside air temperature at the time of the accident was 91 degrees Fahrenheit and the airplane was loaded near its maximum gross takeoff weight of 6,000 pounds. The pilot stated, "The load was too heavy for the weather conditions at this time." The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4549E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4549E), registered now, S/N 401-0765 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 401 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-401](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (registry code 0390204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 401-0765 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 5001 - Engines: Aireaserch/Garrett TPE331-1 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, February 20, 2015 - Departed: NONE, Wall, SD - Destination: NONE, Wall, SD - Airport: NONE, Private Airstrip, runway 35, 2,750 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 27, 2014; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 5,152 total, 1,332 in this make and model, 5,009 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 22 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: KRAP, 31 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 20150609008669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150609008669A), Jun 9, 2015: Air Tractor Inc AT-401, Wall, SD, Substantial damage. On June 9, 2015, at 1630 an Air tractor (AT-401) registered to cedar butte Air inc., was involved in an accident while taking-off from a Grass strip for the… ## Other investigations on N4549E (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI01LA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA195), Jul 2, 2001: Air Tractor AT-401 (N4549E), Ellinwood, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot failed to see and avoid the guy wire during an aerial application flight. A factor associated with the accident was the guy wire. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 21, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91350. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429475&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Fuselage (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 661 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429477&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Fuselage%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – Right Wing and Aileron (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 454 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40429478&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20Right%20Wing%20and%20Aileron%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF 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.