Air Tractor AT 502 N6181Q

Summary

On 8 May 2016 at about 22:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT 502 registered N6181Q, operated by Kelly Sykora, was involved in an accident near Oberlin, Kansas, 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

8 May 2016 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Oberlin, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Oberlin Muni (OIN)

Coordinates

39.8339, -100.5403

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 502

Registration

N6181Q

Category

Airplane

Year built

1996

Engines

1

Operator

Kelly Sykora

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oberlin → Oberlin

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA16CA224

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll, which resulted in runway excursion, and a ground loop.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during the landing roll, as the airplane slowed down, the tailwheel lifted off the ground. He further reported that the airplane veered to the right despite left rudder and brake application, exited the runway, and ground looped. According to the pilot there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.