N2362D – AIR TRACTOR AT301 – 2011-06-24 NTSB Accident Report

On June 24, 2011, a Air Tractor AT301 (N2362D) was involved in an incident near Circle, MT. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed during initial climb.

The pilot stated that he loaded the hopper of the airplane with chemicals for an agricultural flight and proceeded to depart on runway 30. During the climb out, at approximately 50 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot noticed a tailwind from the southwest and at 60 feet agl noticed that his climb rate had diminished. The pilot attempted to initiate a forced landing in the wash across a main road. On touchdown the main landing gear broke off and the airplane proceeded inside a gully where the wings sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no mechanical issues or malfunctions that would have precluded normal flight. At the time of the accident, the density altitude was approximately 3,600 ft.

This incident is documented in NTSB report WPR11CA286. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N2362D.