Air Tractor AT-401 N1008P

Summary

On 18 April 1997 at about 15:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT-401 registered N1008P was involved in an accident near Highmore, South Dakota, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 April 1997 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Highmore, South Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Highmore (9D0)

Coordinates

44.5191, -99.4291

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-401

Registration

N1008P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI97LA106

1 person had minor injuries.

a premature lift-off of the airplane by the pilot in command.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft was loaded with 2,400 pounds of fertilizer and 100 gallons of fuel. During takeoff, it collided with a six foot high fence at the end of the runway, and flipped over. The pilot reported that the takeoff seemed normal and that no airplane discrepancies with the engine or airframe were noted during the taxi, run up, or takeoff roll. Before colliding with the fence, the pilot executed an emergency dump of the fertilizer. Reportedly, the airplane had lifted off at approximately 1,900 feet down the 2,800 foot long runway, and the airplane did not climb after lift off. Same type aircraft with similar loads under similar conditions were using approximately 80 percent of the available runway.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.