Air Tractor AT301 N2362D

Summary

On 24 June 2011 at about 14:05 local time, a Air Tractor AT301 registered N2362D, operated by Harris Spraying Inc., was involved in an accident near Circle, Montana, 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

24 June 2011 at 14:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Circle, Montana, United States

Nearest airport

Circle Town Airport (4U6)

Coordinates

47.4222, -105.5669

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT301

Registration

N2362D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Harris Spraying Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Circle Airport → Circle Airport

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11CA286

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to attain and maintain an adequate airspeed during initial climb.

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 hopper of the airplane with chemicals for an agricultural flight and proceeded to take off. During the initial climb, at approximately 50 feet above ground level (agl), the pilot noticed a tailwind from the southwest and at 60 feet agl noticed that his climb rate had diminished. He performed a forced landing in the wash across a main road, and on touchdown the main landing gear separated and the airplane proceeded inside a gully where the wings sustained substantial damage. At the time of the accident, the density altitude was approximately 3,600 feet. The pilot reported no mechanical issues or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation and he felt that he was unable to attain an adequate flying speed due to the high humidity.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.