- Date
- December 6, 2000, 06:30 local (11:30 UTC)
- Place
- Clarksville, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N9046DAir Tractor AT-602
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 19, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20001206024809A
- Case key
- 50734
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 delay in aborting a takeoff after hitting a soft spot (sand) in the runway resulting in the airplane going off the end of the runway and colliding with trees. Contributing to the accident was the pilots decision to attempt the flight in an over weight 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 he attempted a takeoff in a slightly overweight condition. The airplane hit a soft spot (sand) in the runway and the airspeed decreased. He aborted the takeoff; the airplane went off the end of the runway and collided with trees.
Factual narrative
On December 6, 2000, at about 0630 eastern standard time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N9046D, registered to AG Pilots Inc., operated by Thrash Aviation as a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight crashed on takeoff from a private strip in the vicinity of Clarksville, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated the aircraft was slightly over weight and attempted a takeoff from a 1,500-foot strip. During the takeoff roll the airplane hit some soft dirt/sand and slowed down. He aborted the takeoff, went off the end of the runway and collided with trees.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N9046D
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-602
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 602-0562
- Airframe hours
- 1,104
- Engine
- P&W -60, 1,050 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Thrash Aviation
- Registered owner
- Ag Pilots Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 14, 2000 · 212 hours before
- Departed
- NA
- Airport
- Private
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 300 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 32 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PFN
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N9046D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.