Air Tractor AT-602 N85115

Summary

On 15 May 2009 at about 14:10 local time, a Air Tractor AT-602 registered N85115, operated by Thompson Flying Service, LLC, was involved in an accident near Charleston, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 May 2009 at 14:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Charleston, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

36.8419, -89.3594

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-602

Registration

N85115

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Thompson Flying Service, LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Charleston → Charleston

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA316

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to abort the takeoff resulting in a runway overrun and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported that the agricultural airplane attempted to depart the private airstrip with a load of potash, but that the airplane "never made it off the ground" and impacted crops and terrain located at the end of the runway. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The rudder was crushed and the engine separated from the airframe. The pilot did "not remember any of the accident." The accident flight was one of several flights completed that day and the day before. The estimated weight of the airplane at the time of takeoff was 11,200 lbs, and the airplane's maximum gross weight was 12,500 lbs. The runway is approximately 1/2 mile in length with 1,600 feet of asphalt and the remaining runway is grass/turf. Postaccident examination revealed no anomalies with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.