Air Tractor AT502 N103CK

Summary

On 13 June 2019 at about 21:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT502 registered N103CK, operated by Sun Valley Dusting Co, was involved in an accident near San Benito, Texas, 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

13 June 2019 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

San Benito, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Kornegay Private (53XS)

Coordinates

26.1481, -97.5900

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT502

Registration

N103CK

Category

Airplane

Year built

2012

Engines

1

Operator

Sun Valley Dusting Co

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

San Benito → San Benito

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA339

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper decision to take off with the airplane near its maximum allowable gross takeoff weight and his subsequent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during takeoff with a "heavy load" from a 2,600-ft-long private runway, the airplane lifted off, but "due to a shifting wind and high density altitude," the airplane aerodynamically stalled and impacted a field at the end of the runway. The airplane nosed over and was consumed by a postimpact fire. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the airplane's gross weight at the time of the accident was 9,350 lbs, and the manufacturer's maximum gross takeoff weight was 9,400 lbs. An automated weather observation station located 6 miles north of the accident site reported that, about 37 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 190° at 10 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, scattered clouds at 5,000 ft, temperature 90° F, dew point 70° F, and altimeter setting 30.04 inches of mercury. The same automated station reported that, about 22 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 040° at 6 knots. The airplane was departing from runway 12.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.