Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hudson, Illinois 61748
Friday, August 15, 2003 18:50 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The Part 137 aerial application airplane sustained substantial damage during takeoff from a private grass airstrip when it contacted the soybean crop. The pilot reported the airplane was loaded with 405 gallons of chemical and both wings were 3/4 full of Jet A fuel. He reported that during takeoff roll the right wingtip and right spray boom "caught the soybeans at the end of the runway." The airplane veered to the right and skidded sideways. He reported extensive damage to the wings, engine, and propeller. He reported there was no mechanical malfunction of the airplane prior to the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot failed to abort the takeoff. A factor was the soybean crop.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/15/2003
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1850
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Hudson
Event State ILLINOIS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 61748
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 403815N
Event Location Longitude 0890025W
Event Location Airport Private Airstrip
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 04IL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 755
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1845 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 170
Weather Observation Facility ID BMI
Elevation of weather observation facility 871
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4700
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15434
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date Aug 15 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2003
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jun 3 2004 1:28PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-Springfield FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9187Z
NTSB Number CHI03LA270
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Air Tractor
Aircraft Model AT-502
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 502-0223
Certified Max Gross Weight 8000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 30 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 180
Airframe Hours 4746
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Larry Neal
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 4, Box 7
Aircraft Owner City Slaton
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79364
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Jeffrey Dungan
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 4845 West State Rt. 44
Operator City Connorsville
Operator State IN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 47331
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 04IL
Departure City Hudson
Departure State IL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1850
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City --
Destination State --
Destination Country --
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 29 2004 4:17PM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 36
Runway Length 2500
Runway Width 125
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --