Air Tractor AT 802 N422BR

Summary

On 28 February 2017 at about 19:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT 802 registered N422BR, operated by Airbourn Aviation LLC., was involved in an accident near Prentiss, Mississippi, 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

28 February 2017 at 19:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Prentiss, Mississippi, United States

Nearest airport

Prentiss-Jefferson Davis Count (M43)

Coordinates

31.5953, -89.9064

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 802

Registration

N422BR

Category

Airplane

Year built

2010

Engines

1

Operator

Airbourn Aviation LLC.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Positioning

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Prentiss → Laurel

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA164

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's decision to take off with a gusting tailwind and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control.

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 takeoff in gusting tailwind conditions, as the tailwheel lifted, the airplane drifted to the left and off the runway. He aborted the takeoff and applied "maximum braking" and reverse thrust. During the runway excursion, the airplane impacted a ditch and spun 180°. The pilot added that, as he exited the cockpit, he observed "dark smoke coming from the exhaust and cowling with smoldering burning grass." He reported that he discharged the onboard fire extinguisher into the engine exhaust, main landing gear, and grass. He added that hydraulic fluid leaking from a severed brake line and fuel leaking from the cowl and lower right wing were feeding the postimpact fire. Shortly thereafter, the local volunteer fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The fuselage and both wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from 180º at 15 knots, gusting to 28 knots. The closest automated weather observation station, located about 38 nautical miles from the accident site, recorded wind from 180° at 14 knots, gusting to 22 knots. The airplane took off from runway 30.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.