Air Tractor AT-802A N6144H

Summary

On 23 May 1999 at about 19:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT-802A registered N6144H was involved in an accident near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 May 1999 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Poplar Bluff, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airstrip

Coordinates

36.7605, -90.4003

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-802A

Registration

N6144H

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

CHI99LA159

Nobody was injured.

the pilot selecting the wrong runway direction on which to initiate the takeoff and his failure to maintain directional control. Factors associated with the accident were the quartering tailwind condition, the rough terrain encountered, and fatigue.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he initiated the takeoff with a '... strong quartering tailwind.' According to the pilot he was taking off to the east with the local winds from 315 degrees at 15 to 20 knots. He reported that the airplane veered to the left and he was unable to compensate for the veer using the rudder. The airplane traveled off the left side of the airstrip and through a rice field where it contacted a levee knocking off the main gear. The pilot stated he started flying at 0700 central daylight time and he had flown 24 loads on the day of the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.