# NTSB GAA19CA339: Air Tractor AT502, N103CK, San Benito, TX, June 13, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 13, 2019, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: San Benito, TX - Coordinates: 26.148056, -97.589996 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1481&lon=-97.5900&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99625 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA339 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99625/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99625 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA339 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper decision to take off with the airplane near its maximum allowable gross takeoff weight and his subsequent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 22 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: maximum weight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061035/cases.md?model=0390307), [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. - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 46 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=0390307), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff with a "heavy load" from a 2,600-ft-long private runway, the airplane lifted off, but "due to a shifting wind and high density altitude," the airplane aerodynamically stalled and impacted a field at the end of the runway. The airplane nosed over and was consumed by a postimpact fire. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the airplane's gross weight at the time of the accident was 9,350 lbs, and the manufacturer's maximum gross takeoff weight was 9,400 lbs. An automated weather observation station located 6 miles north of the accident site reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 190° at 10 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, scattered clouds at 5,000 ft, temperature 90° F, dew point 70° F, and altimeter setting 30.04 inches of mercury. The same automated station reported that, about 22 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 040° at 6 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 12. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff with a "heavy load" from a 2,600 ft private runway, the airplane lifted off, but "due to a shifting wind and high density altitude" the airplane aerodynamically stalled and impacted a field at the end of the runway. The airplane nosed over and was consumed by a postimpact fire. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the gross weight of the airplane at the time of the accident was 9,350 pounds, and the manufacturer's maximum gross takeoff weight was 9,400 pounds. The automated weather observation station, located 6 miles north of the accident, reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 190° at 10 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, scattered clouds at 5,000 ft, temperature 90°, dew point 70°, altimeter setting 30.04" Hg. The same automated station reported that, about 22 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 040° at 6 knots. The calculated density altitude was 2,189 ft. The airplane was departing on runway 12. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N103CK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N103CK-2021-05-22), registration cancelled 2021-05-22, S/N 502B-2795, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT502 (B) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34ag) (registry code 52251, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-2795 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 3700 - Engines: P&W Canada PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Sun Valley Dusting Co - Registered owner: Sun Valley Dusting Co - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 17, 2019 - Departed: 53XS, San Benito, TX - Destination: 53XS, San Benito, TX - Airport: 53XS, Kornegay Private, runway 12, 2,600 × 20 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 28; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 4, 2018; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,200 total, 900 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 350 in the last 90 days, 300 in the last 30 days, 20 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KHRL, 6 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 20190613006869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190613006869A), Jun 13, 2019: Air Tractor Inc AT-502B, San Benito, TX, Substantial damage. June 13, 2019 at 1530 CDT, an Air tractor 502B, was unable to accelerate and climb while in ground effect. The aircraft began to encounter the brush off the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 9, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99625. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474946&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 202 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40474947&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.