Air Tractor 502B N90158

Summary

On 10 August 2000 at about 20:30 local time, a Air Tractor 502B registered N90158 was involved in an accident near Perthshire, Mississippi, 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

10 August 2000 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Perthshire, Mississippi, United States

Coordinates

33.9402, -90.9402

Aircraft

Air Tractor 502B

Registration

N90158

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

MIA00LA237

Nobody was injured.

the pilot's failure to perform a weight and balance check that resulted in overloading of the airplane with spraying material, for the weather conditions that existed at the time of takeoff. Factors in this accident were extremely high temperatures, which resulted in a high-density altitude condition.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he loaded the aircraft with 450 gallons of chemicals, adding, '...that's the load I used (sic) carry,' and took off towards the east on a 2,600 feet long airstrip. He noticed, '...that the tail did not get up after more than half way of the takeoff roll.' He then put the flaps in the full down position, and he started working with the trim, trying to raise the tail. He also stated that the airplane was never airborne, and the right wheel and the right wing hit the soybeans. The nose went down, the propeller hit the ground, the aircraft made a right turn landing on the tail and came to a rest. The FAA inspector found no mechanical problems with the airplane and stated that, due to the atmospheric conditions, the airplane was overloaded. The temperature at the time of the accident was about 102 F, and the density altitude about 2,900 feet.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.