- Date
- August 10, 2000, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Perthshire, MS
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N90158Air Tractor 502B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 2, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000810006079A
- Case key
- 49989
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 failure to perform a weight and balance check that resulted in overloading of the airplane with spraying material, for the weather conditions that existed at the time of takeoff. Factors in this accident were extremely high temperatures, which resulted in a high-density altitude condition.
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 he loaded the aircraft with 450 gallons of chemicals, adding, '...that's the load I used (sic) carry,' and took off towards the east on a 2,600 feet long airstrip. He noticed, '...that the tail did not get up after more than half way of the takeoff roll.' He then put the flaps in the full down position, and he started working with the trim, trying to raise the tail. He also stated that the airplane was never airborne, and the right wheel and the right wing hit the soybeans. The nose went down, the propeller hit the ground, the aircraft made a right turn landing on the tail and came to a rest. The FAA inspector found no mechanical problems with the airplane and stated that, due to the atmospheric conditions, the airplane was overloaded. The temperature at the time of the accident was about 102 F, and the density altitude about 2,900 feet.
Factual narrative
On August 10, 2000, about 1530 central daylight time, an Air Tractor 502B, N90158, registered to and operated by Shannon Agricultural Flying, Inc. as a Title 14 CFR Part 137, agricultural flight, overran the airstrip during takeoff in Perthshire, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot reported no injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that he loaded the aircraft with 450 gallons of chemicals, adding, "...that's the load I used (sic) carry," and took off towards the east on a 2,600 feet long airstrip. He noticed, "that the tail did not get up after more than half way of the takeoff roll." He then put the flaps in the full down position and he started working with the trim, trying to raise the tail. He also stated that the airplane was never airborne and the right wheel and the right wing hit the soybeans. The nose went down, the propeller hit the ground, the airplane made a right turn landing on the tail and came to a rest.
The FAA inspector who examined the airplane stated that he saw marks on the grass field all the way to the plane and that the flaps were in a full down position. He also stated, "I found no mechanical problems with the aircraft and due to the atmospheric conditions at the time, the aircraft was overloaded."
The temperature at the time of the accident was about 102 F, and the density altitude about 2,900 feet.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N90158
- Reported as
- Air Tractor 502B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 502B0575
- Airframe hours
- 634
- Engine
- P&W RT-GA-34AG, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Shannon Agricultural Flying
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 21, 2000 · 62 hours before
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
- 52
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 10,768 total · 2,651 in this make and model · 10,768 as pilot in command · 350 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 102 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GLH, 35 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.