Tarzan, TX, USA
N61407
Air Tractor AT-502
The airplane began to settle back down on the ground just after take-off from runway N (a 2,650-feet long by 150-feet wide turf runway). The 3,370-hour pilot emptied the load of chemicals, but was still unable to gain altitude. The automated surface observing station at Midland International Airport (MAF), near Midland, Texas, located approximately 12 miles southwest of the airport, reported winds at 170 at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 88 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 63 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.88 inches of Mercury. The density altitude was calculated as 5,320 feet based on the outside air temperature of 31 degrees Celsius, a dew point of 17 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.88 inches of mercury. The field elevation at the private airstrip was 2,740 feet msl.
On May 26, 2004, approximately 1130 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502 single-engine agricultural airplane, N61407, was substantially damaged when it impacted a berm at the departure end of the runway following a loss of control during take-off from Ryan Aerodrome (7TX7), a private field near Tarzan, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, the airplane began to settle back down on the ground just after take-off from runway N (a 2,650-feet long by 150-feet wide turf runway) . The 3,370-hour pilot emptied the load of chemicals, but was still unable to gain altitude. The right wing impacted the ground first, followed by the left main landing gear. The airplane came to rest approximately 180 degrees from the direction of take-off. Examination of the airplane by the FAA inspector revealed that the left main landing gear and tailwheel separated from the airplane. The outboard section of the right wing was bent up and aft approximately 45 degrees. The left wing-tip was wrinkled and the left aileron was almost completely separated. The rudder and elevator trim tab was completely separated from the airplane. All three propeller blades exhibited S-bending. The automated surface observing station at Midland International Airport (MAF), near Midland, Texas, located approximately 12 miles southwest of the airport, at 1153, reported winds at 170 at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 88 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 63 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.88 inches of Mercury. The density altitude was calculated as 5,320 feet based on the outside air temperature of 31 degrees Celsius, a dew point of 17 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.88 inches of mercury. The field elevation at the private airstrip was 2,740 feet msl. Despite repeated attempts by the NTSB investigator in charge (IIC) to acquire a completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) from the pilot, one was not obtained.
The pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed suitable for flight. Contributing factors were the high density altitude and tail wind condition.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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