Air Tractor AT502 N5092J

Summary

On 8 June 2020 at about 20:25 local time, a Air Tractor AT502 registered N5092J, operated by McElwain, Floyd W, was involved in an accident near Hiawatha, 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 June 2020 at 20:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Hiawatha, Kansas, United States

Nearest airport

Hiawatha Municipal Airport (K87)

Coordinates

39.8825, -95.5183

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT502

Registration

N5092J

Category

Airplane

Year built

1997

Engines

1

Operator

McElwain, Floyd W

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Hiawatha → Hiawatha

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20CA221

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s decision to attempt the takeoff with a tailwind in high density altitude conditions.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Prior to the aerial application flight, the airplane was loaded with about 3,400 pounds (lbs) of dry fertilizer and contained about 140 gallons of fuel. The airplane’s estimated weight at the time of the accident was 9,000 lbs, with a maximum gross weight of 9,400 lbs. The pilot reported the temperature was about 95° F, the wind was from 150°; about 6 knots, and runway 35 was rough with tall grass. The calculated density altitude was about 3,900 ft. During the takeoff, the pilot attempted to rotate; however, "the aircraft was not ready to fly." The airplane impacted a field about 500 ft north of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot's recommendation to prevent the accident was "carry lighter loads, less fuel on hot days."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.