Air Tractor AT-502B N5196J
21 April 2004 · San Angelo, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 21 April 2004 at about 17:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502B registered N5196J, operated by Summers Spraying Service Inc, was involved in an accident near San Angelo, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- San Angelo, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 31.3575, -100.4961
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502B
- Registration
- N5196J
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Summers Spraying Service Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- San Angelo → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW04CA112
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot's improper preflight performance planning, and his failure to establish a climb. Factors were the high density altitude and crosswind.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
According to the pilot, he stated that he "didn't plan well" for the flight. He attempted to takeoff on about a 180-degree heading from a 3,000-foot-long dirt strip on a hot day with 500 gallons of chemicals on board, full fuel tanks, and a crosswind. He applied full power, started the take-off roll, and the airplane became airborne. But, when the airplane got to the end of the runway, it "wouldn't fly." The pilot tried to dump the chemical load, but was unsuccessful. Subsequently, the landing gear contacted tree tops, and the airplane rolled and collided with the ground. Once the airplane came to a stop, it caught on fire. Weather conditions at an airport located 20 nautical miles northwest of the accident were wind from 250 degrees at 12 knots gusting to 16 knots, clear skies, temperature 84 degrees Fahrenheit, and dew point 37 degrees Fahrenheit. The density altitude was 4,179 feet.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Air Tractor AT-502B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Sep 2004 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Belle Glade, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jun 2004 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Weldon, Arkansas, United States | Weldon Flying Service, LLC | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jul 2004 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Mendota, California, United States | Douglas Thiel | No injuries | - |
| 23 Jun 2004 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Crowley, Louisiana, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 18 Feb 2005 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Avon, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 22 Aug 2003 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Westside, Iowa, United States | Westerlin and Harrington Flying SER | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 May 2004 | Lockheed 1329-23E | Houston, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jun 2004 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Dalhart, Texas, United States | Kenneth Green | No injuries | - |
| 21 Mar 2004 | Bell 407 | Pyote, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 4 |
| 3 Aug 2004 | Piper PA-60-601P | Lakeway, Texas, United States | Curtis Treadwell | Fatal | 6 |
| 9 Sep 2004 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Rachel, Texas, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 9 Dec 2004 | Mooney M20F | Fabens, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |