N6047G

Substantial
None

AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502BS/N: 502B-0266

Accident Details

Date
Friday, August 17, 2012
NTSB Number
CEN12CA568
Location
Bogata, TX
Event ID
20120823X55748
Coordinates
33.470554, -95.213607
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
None
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
0
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
1
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in the airplane’s loading beyond its maximum gross weight.

Aircraft Information

Registration
N6047G
Make
AIR TRACTOR INC
Serial Number
502B-0266
Engine Type
Turbo-shaft
Year Built
1994
Model / ICAO
AT-502BAT5T
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1

Registered Owner (Historical)

Name
DAN AERO INC
Address
306 QUAIL STREET
Status
Deregistered
City
HOOKS
State / Zip Code
TX 75561
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot reported that he completed two successful aerial application flights from the same 2,000-foot turf runway before the accident flight. The pilot reported that the airplane was not on level terrain when the chemical was added to the load prior to the accident flight, which might have affected the accuracy of the sight gauge. The pilot was distracted during the loading of the chemical and refueling, and he did not recheck the level of the chemical in the hopper. He stated that the airplane's maximum gross weight was overloaded by about 500 pounds. The temperature was about 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind was from 270 degrees at 5 knots. He departed from runway 18 with 10 degrees of flaps. The airplane became airborne, but it did not get out of ground effect. He stated that a dust devil might have affected the airplane. According to the pilot, the airplane “sagged” (lost lift) and the left main landing gear hit an embankment. The airplane landed in the adjacent cornfield, and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane prior to the impact with the terrain.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CEN12CA568