Air Tractor AT 502B N369AB

Summary

On 27 August 2014 at about 17:15 local time, a Air Tractor AT 502B registered N369AB, operated by Lindell Aerial AG Service, was involved in an accident near Colusa, 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

27 August 2014 at 17:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Colusa, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Douglas (IL84)

Coordinates

40.5764, -91.0978

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 502B

Registration

N369AB

Category

Airplane

Year built

2008

Engines

1

Operator

Lindell Aerial AG Service

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Colusa → Colusa

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14CA464

Nobody was injured.

The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane during takeoff from a grass strip. Contributing was the airplane being loaded beyond its capability for the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, prior to departure the airplane's hopper was "packed full" of seed. He taxied to the turf runway which was soft from recent rain and began the takeoff. The airplane rolled farther down the runway than the previous runs that day so he extended the flaps and the airplane became airborne. Just past the departure end of the runway, the landing gear dragged through the bean plants. The airplane flew another 50 yards until it began to settle into the field; the right wing contacted the beans and the airplane impacted terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The owner stated that the airplane was not loaded beyond the maximum gross weight; it was loaded to 7,000 lbs and the maximum gross weight was 8,000 lbs. It is likely that the airplane was too heavy to operate on the runway and the climb performance was decreased.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.