Air Tractor AT-502B N113AA

Summary

On 22 August 2011 at about 22:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502B registered N113AA, operated by AG Air Inc, was involved in an accident near Matthews, Missouri, 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

22 August 2011 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Matthews, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airstrip (PVT)

Coordinates

36.7372, -89.5864

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-502B

Registration

N113AA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

AG Air Inc

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Matthews → Matthews

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11CA589

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the aerial application flight reported that the airplane was loaded with 300 gallons of chemical and 100 gallons of fuel. He stated that he powered the airplane up for takeoff, all instrument readings were good, and the airplane took off. He stated that after liftoff, while in ground effect, a wind shear caused the right wing of the airplane to drop, causing the airplane to strike a ditch. The recorded wind speed at an airport located 27 miles from the accident site was 7 knots. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage was buckled and the right wing was bent aft. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.