Pilot Debrief

AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502 near Halstad, MN — 2023-08-02

Final reportCEN23LA346
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Date
2023-08-02
Location
Halstad, MN, USA
Airport
8MN2
Aircraft
AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502
Registration
N45453
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot’s attempt to rotate the airplane without sufficient airspeed which resulted in a lack of climb performance and impact with terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt the takeoff with a tailwind.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to attempt the takeoff with a tailwind.

NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after loading about 100 gallons of jet fuel and about 420 gallons of aerial spray product, he began a takeoff roll on the 2,506 ft asphalt runway. The pilot attempted to rotate the airplane with about 300 ft of runway remaining. Unable to climb out of ground effect, the pilot attempted to jettison the aerial spray product during and after takeoff. The airplane was airborne for about 200 yards before it settled into the soybean field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, empennage, and fuselage. During an interview, the pilot stated that he took off with a tailwind with one notch of flaps and remembers over torquing the engine. He reported that he likely rotated too soon, was slow, and never got out of ground effect. The pilot reported, and a postaccident examination corroborated that, there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 3 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents3

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