Hunt's Ag-Air Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Taft, Texas 78390
Wednesday, October 10, 2007 7:55 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The 640-hour commercial pilot, who reported having accumulated 10-hours in the same tailwheel equipped turboprop airplane, was attempting to depart from the 2,400-fot long, by 24-foot wide airstrip with a prevailing gusting crosswind. Shortly after takeoff from runway 03, the pilot was not able to compensate for the existing wind conditions and lost control of the airplane. The pilot responded with left rudder and aileron; however, the airplane continued to roll right until the right wing tip contacted the ground. The airplane subsequently cart-wheeled and came to rest in an upright position. The pilot was able to exited the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane revealed the left wing sustained structural damage. No pre-impact anomalies were found with the brakes, steering system or the airplane's flight controls. The winds at the time of the mishap were reported from 010 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 17 knots.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain control during takeoff. A contributing factor was the prevailing crosswind.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/10/2007
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 755
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Taft
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 78390
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 275845N
Event Location Longitude 0972347W
Event Location Airport Hunt's Ag-Air
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HAA
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Dawn
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 5
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 17
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) 22801
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2007 6:59AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office San Antonio, Texas

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5006K
NTSB Number DFW08CA014
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Air Tractor
Aircraft Model 402B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 402B-1024
Certified Max Gross Weight 7000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Feb 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 3970
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Hunts Ag-Air Inc
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Taft
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 78390
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code HAA
Departure City Taft
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 755
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Taft
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 10 2007 5:48PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 3
Runway Length 2400
Runway Width 24
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --