- Date
- June 24, 2011, 08:05 local (14:05 UTC)
- Place
- Circle, MT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N2362DAir Tractor AT301
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 4, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
- FAA report
- 20110624011459A
- Case key
- 80884
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 attain and maintain an adequate airspeed during initial climb.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he loaded the hopper of the airplane with chemicals for an agricultural flight and proceeded to take off. During the initial climb, at approximately 50 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot noticed a tailwind from the southwest and at 60 feet agl noticed that his climb rate had diminished. He performed a forced landing in the wash across a main road, and on touchdown the main landing gear separated and the airplane proceeded inside a gully where the wings sustained substantial damage. At the time of the accident, the density altitude was approximately 3,600 feet. The pilot reported no mechanical issues or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation and he felt that he was unable to attain an adequate flying speed due to the high humidity.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he loaded the hopper of the airplane with chemicals for an agricultural flight and proceeded to depart on runway 30. During the climb out, at approximately 50 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot noticed a tailwind from the southwest and at 60 feet agl noticed that his climb rate had diminished. The pilot attempted to initiate a forced landing in the wash across a main road. On touchdown the main landing gear broke off and the airplane proceeded inside a gully where the wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical issues or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight. At the time of the accident, the density altitude was approximately 3,600 ft.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N2362D
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT301 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0404
- Airframe hours
- 7,379
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Harris Spraying Inc.
- Registered owner
- Harris Spraying Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · December 13, 2010 · 145 hours before
- Departed
- 4U6 · Circle Airport, MT
- Destination
- 4U6 · Circle Airport, MT
- Airport
- 4U6 · Circle Town Airport, runway 30, 4,100 × 75 ft, asphalt
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
- 68
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 6, 2010
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 6,716 total · 2,917 in this make and model · 6,716 as pilot in command · 145 in the last 90 days · 120 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.77 inHg
- Observed at
- KOLF, 41 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 430 KB in all.
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 N2362D · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.