Pilot Debrief

AIR TRACTOR AT602 near Trumann, AR — 2021-05-27

Final reportCEN21LA240
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Date
2021-05-27
Location
Trumann, AR, USA
Airport
PVT
Aircraft
AIR TRACTOR AT602
Registration
N602NY
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to review the weather conditions before the flight, which resulted in a loss of directional control during takeoff due to a sudden change in wind direction and speed associated with an approaching thunderstorm.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the agricultural airplane was on takeoff roll when a sudden wind gust caused the airplane to swerve left. He was unable to regain directional control of the airplane before it departed the left side of the runway, through a drainage ditch, and into a cornfield. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, aft fuselage, empennage, and the engine mounts. The pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Earlier in the day, the pilot had reviewed the local forecast on the National Weather Service website, which stated that there was a chance of thunderstorms later in the afternoon. He also reviewed the weather conditions periodically throughout the day using a weather application on his mobile phone/tablet, but the last time he had reviewed the weather application was about 15 minutes before the accident, at which time he did not observe any thunderstorms in the local area. The pilot did not review any weather data before the accident flight. According to weather radar data, a significant thunderstorm was approaching the airstrip from the southwest in the minutes preceding the accident and was over the airstrip about 5 minutes after the accident. The pilot’s inability to maintain directional control during the takeoff was likely due to a sudden change in wind direction and speed associated with the approaching thunderstorm.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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