Air Tractor AT-502 N1515P

Summary

On 21 June 2011 at about 22:21 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502 registered N1515P, operated by Vector Disease Control International, was involved in an accident near Blackfoot, 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

21 June 2011 at 22:21

Classification

Accident

Location

Blackfoot, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

McCarley Field Airport (U02)

Coordinates

43.2092, -112.3494

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-502

Registration

N1515P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Vector Disease Control International

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Blackfoot → Blackfoot

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11LA278

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power during takeoff for undetermined reasons.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during takeoff for a local aerial application flight, the airplane became airborne slightly beyond the normal rotation point. As the airplane approached the departure end of the runway, the engine did not develop enough power to maintain flight. The pilot stated that due to the amount of runway remaining, he was unable to abort the takeoff. He then lowered the nose in an effort to gain more airspeed but did not jettison the chemical load in the hopper. Subsequently, the airplane struck multiple trees beyond the departure end of the runway and came to rest upright. Company personnel reported that, per the pilot's request prior to the accident flight, the airplane was loaded with an amount of chemical that was similar to amounts that he had been using throughout the day. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Signatures observed on the engine's internal components exhibited characteristics of the engine developing power at the time of impact, likely in a high power range. The airplane was found to be within weight and balance limitations at the time of the accident. The reason for the engine to not develop sufficient power for the airplane to maintain a positive rate of climb could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.