Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to achieve adequate airspeed on takeoff which resulted in the airplane entering a stall/mush when it flew out of ground effect while crossing a large drainage ditch on takeoff.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On August 28, 2005, at 1930 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, collided with the terrain and a corn crop during takeoff on runway 12 (2,800 feet by 50 feet, asphalt) at the Hector Municipal Airport (1D6), Hector, Minnesota. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot reported he noticed that the airplane was not developing full power during the takeoff. He reported he was about half way down the runway at the time. He reported, "As I lifted off the end of the runway I was just barely flying. I had to cross a large drainage ditch thus losing ground effect." The pilot reported that the main gear touched down and the tail wheel hit the bank on the far side of the drainage ditch prior to the airplane coming to rest in a corn field.
The airplane was loaded with 450 pounds of insecticide at the time of the accident. The pilot reported the local winds were from 300 degrees at 2 to 3 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI05CA245