Air Tractor AT-502 N4533H

Summary

On 8 October 1996 at about 22:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502 registered N4533H was involved in an accident near Idalou, Texas, 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

8 October 1996 at 22:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Idalou, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Everitt (NONE)

Coordinates

33.6596, -101.6808

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-502

Registration

N4533H

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

FTW97LA012

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in an overrun during takeoff and an encounter with cotton (crop) and rough/uneven terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the excessive loading of the airplane for the existing conditions, the short runway, the high density altitude, and the pilot's delay in jettisoning the load.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to an FAA inspector, the pilot was attempting to depart his 2,300 foot long dirt airstrip with a 3,040 pound payload of cotton defoliant for a local aerial application flight. He stated that the airplane failed to become airborne and overran the departure end of the airstrip. He added that the airplane managed to break ground, but its wheels dragged on cotton plants and eventually decelerated the airplane to the point where the flight could not be maintained. Subsequently, the airplane encountered furrows perpendicular to its takeoff path and was damaged. The pilot stated that 'the gross weight of the airplane exceeded the ability of the airplane to become airborne within the length of the runway.' The pilot added that 'attempts to jettison the load near the end of the strip were not in sufficient time to prevent running off the end of the runway.' Based on figures provided by the operator, the density altitude was calculated to be 9,500 feet. The approved airplane flight manual did not provide performance data on the required takeoff roll for this flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.