Air Tractor AT-502 N502MH

Summary

On 20 July 2013 at about 14:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502 registered N502MH, operated by Woodley Aerial Spray Inc., was involved in an accident near Shannon, 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

20 July 2013 at 14:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Shannon, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Sneek Airport (2IL0)

Coordinates

42.1814, -89.6769

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-502

Registration

N502MH

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Woodley Aerial Spray Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Shannon → Shannon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA426

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s inability to maintain an adequate climb rate after encountering a sudden wind shift during takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that he had completed three uneventful aerial application flights on the day of the accident; however, shortly after lifting off for the fourth flight, the airplane encountered a sudden wind shear and was unable to climb out of ground effect. The airplane descended from an altitude of 10-12 feet above the ground into the corn crop located off the end of runway. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of available wind data indicated that calm wind conditions prevailed throughout the morning; however, a shift to a northwest wind occurred about the time of the accident, which would have resulted in a tailwind and a reduced climb gradient.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.