Air Tractor AT-502B N61352

Summary

On 12 August 2007 at about 20:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502B registered N61352 was involved in an accident near Cooksville, Illinois, 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

12 August 2007 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Cooksville, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

40.8972, -88.7139

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-502B

Registration

N61352

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cooksville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI07CA268

Nobody was injured.

The partial loss of engine power during the takeoff roll for undetermined reasons and the pilot's unsuccessful compensation for the tailwind conditions. Factors contributing to the accident were the tailwind and the corn crop.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the grass airstrip when it failed to clear the corn at the end of the airstrip. The pilot reported that he was departing on his fourth flight of the day. The airplane was loaded with 425 gallons of water and chemicals and 150 gallons of fuel. He reported that he checked the wind before takeoff and it appeared there was no wind. He reported that during his takeoff roll, "I encountered a substantial gust of wind from the rear that prevented me from keeping the airplane airborne." He also stated that, "I believe that if this engine had been producing its maximum rated horsepower, the gust of wind would not have been the deciding factor in this take off."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.