Air Tractor AT-502 N4516K

Summary

On 24 July 1995 at about 19:15 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502 registered N4516K was involved in an accident near Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

24 July 1995 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Idaho Falls, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Qb One

Coordinates

43.5007, -111.8893

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-502

Registration

N4516K

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA95LA158

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE AIRSPEED AT LIFTOFF. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, TAILWIND CONDITIONS, THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF AN EXCESSIVE TAKEOFF FLAP SETTING, AND A WINDSHEAR ENCOUNTER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

AT 70 MPH ON TAKEOFF ROLL, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A WIND SHEAR WHICH DECREASED AIRSPEED TO UNDER 60 MPH AND DROPPED THE TAIL BACK TO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT CONTINUED THE TAKEOFF BUT SUBSEQUENTLY DID NOT ATTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT BEFORE REACHING THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP. HE LIFTED OFF BUT THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO SINK IMMEDIATELY AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A SERIES OF POWER POLES IN AN ATTEMPTED EMERGENCY LANDING ON A ROAD. AN 8 TO 10 KNOT TAILWIND EXISTED AT THE START OF THE TAKEOFF ROLL. DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS OVER 7,300 FEET. THE PILOT HAD ALSO SELECTED A GREATER TAKEOFF FLAP SETTING THAN WAS SPECIFIED BY THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.