Air Tractor AT401 N4547Q

Summary

On 4 June 2012 at about 14:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT401 registered N4547Q, operated by Northern Ag Service, was involved in an accident near Kenmare, North Dakota, 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

4 June 2012 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Kenmare, North Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Kenmare Municipal Airport (7K5)

Coordinates

48.6675, -102.0475

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT401

Registration

N4547Q

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Northern Ag Service

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kenmare → Kenmare

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA344

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was attempting to take off for an agricultural application flight with the airplane loaded near gross weight. During the takeoff roll, the pilot thought that the airplane would not attain flight. The pilot aborted the takeoff about halfway down the runway without dumping the load of agricultural applicant. With about 400 feet of runway remaining, the pilot applied reverse thrust, and the airplane ground looped. Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.