Air Tractor AT 402 N45027

Summary

On 20 September 2020 at about 03:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT 402 registered N45027, operated by Tri-Rotor Spray & Chemical, was involved in an accident near Somerton, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

20 September 2020 at 03:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Somerton, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Tri-Rotor Ag Services (AZ25)

Coordinates

32.5572, -114.6842

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT 402

Registration

N45027

Category

Airplane

Year built

1990

Engines

1

Operator

Tri-Rotor Spray & Chemical

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Somerton → Somerton

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

WPR20CA313

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to use full power during takeoff and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, prior to the accident flight, water and a neutralizing agent were added to the hopper tank for cleaning purposes. Several hours later, the pilot conducted a preflight inspection for a night flight. After fueling the airplane, the pilot taxied onto the 2,500 ft. dirt runway, not using the entire length of the runway as he was under the assumption that the hopper was empty. He slowly advanced the power lever to a partial power setting for takeoff. The pilot stated that around the half-way point on the runway, he noticed the airplane was not obtaining the speed needed for takeoff and applied full power. As the airplane was close to the departure end of the runway, the pilot aborted the takeoff and attempted to stop the airplane using the brakes. Subsequently, the airplane overran the departure end of the runway and impacted vegetation. A post-crash fire ensued which destroyed the airplane. The pilot further reported that, after the accident he discussed the events with the company manager and determined the hopper had not been drained of the water prior to the flight. The pilot said that he believed the hopper to be empty and did not apply full power for takeoff.   The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.