Air Tractor AT-502 N198LA

Summary

On 29 May 2009 at about 12:50 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502 registered N198LA, operated by R & R Flight Service, was involved in an accident near Mendota, Illinois, 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

29 May 2009 at 12:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Mendota, Illinois, United States

Nearest airport

Hendrickson Flying Service Air (IL93)

Coordinates

41.5219, -89.1325

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-502

Registration

N198LA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

R & R Flight Service

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mendota → Mendota

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA323

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation and his failure to perform an aborted takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The agricultural airplane was loaded about 300 pounds over its maximum gross weight for a commercial aerial application flight. The pilot stated that the airplane had not become airborne after traveling 3/4 down the runway. At that point in the takeoff, the pilot attempted to lift off, but the airplane settled back onto the runway. The airplane then overran the runway and hit a hill after which the airplane became airborne and then impacted the ground with its right wing tip and left wing, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot sustained minor injuries.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.