Summary
On July 09, 1998, a Air Tractor AT-502 (N9185C) was involved in an accident near Minto, ND. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff. Factors were wet and soft runway conditions, and a ditch and the end of the overrun area.
On July 8, 1998, at 2100 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, N9185C, operated by a commercial pilot sustained substantial damage when it overran the runway on takeoff from runway 17 (2,300' x 100' wet/turf), near Minto, North Dakota, and impacted a drainage ditch. The pilot said that the turf runway was soft and the airplane was slowed too much for liftoff in the last one-third of the runway takeoff length. The pilot reported minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was departing on an aerial application flight in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. There was no flight plan on file. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot gave a written statement concerning the events surrounding the accident.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CHI98LA243. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N9185C.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff. Factors were wet and soft runway conditions, and a ditch and the end of the overrun area.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On July 8, 1998, at 2100 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, N9185C, operated by a commercial pilot sustained substantial damage when it overran the runway on takeoff from runway 17 (2,300' x 100' wet/turf), near Minto, North Dakota, and impacted a drainage ditch. The pilot said that the turf runway was soft and the airplane was slowed too much for liftoff in the last one-third of the runway takeoff length. The pilot reported minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 137 flight was departing on an aerial application flight in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. There was no flight plan on file. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot gave a written statement concerning the events surrounding the accident. He said that the first 700 feet of the takeoff runway was concrete and the remaining 1,600 feet was wet turf. He said that during the takeoff roll on the wet turf the left main landing gear tire encountered a "soft rut" and the airplane yawed to the left. He said at that time his head hit the roll-bar. He said, by the time he recovered, the airplane had slowed to the point the airplane impacted a ditch at the end of the runway and nosed over. The pilot did not indicate any mechanical problems with the airplane and said that the engine power remained "full" throughout the takeoff roll.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI98LA243