Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Reydell, Arkansas 72004
Friday, July 10, 2009 12:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot took off from a private strip on an aerial application flight. While climbing away from the runway the airplane began a left turning tendency. The pilot suspected the airplane encountered a whirlwind and attempted to maintain control of the airplane. When the airplane entered a "dead air space" the airplane was approximately 5 to 10 feet above the ground. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain and came to a stop in the upright position. Substantial damage was sustained to both wings. An inspection of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inability to maintain control of the airplane when it unexpectedly encountered a whirlwind shortly after takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1230
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Reydell
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72004
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 340641N
Event Location Longitude 0913010W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1254 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 279
Weather Observation Facility ID KPBF
Elevation of weather observation facility 206
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.11
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KPBF 101753Z AUTO 18005KT 10SM CLR 33/20 A30
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) 25942
NTSB Notification Source Little Rock Arkansas FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 27 2009 10:23AM
User who most recently changed record gamw
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N60023
NTSB Number CEN09CA428
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 None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AIR TRACTOR INC
Aircraft Model AT-502B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 502B-0315
Certified Max Gross Weight 9500
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5925
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BEAR BAYOU AG SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 14700 BIG MOE RD
Aircraft Owner City STUTTGART
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72160-9113
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name BEAR BAYOU AG SERVICE
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 14700 BIG MOE RD
Operator City STUTTGART
Operator State AR
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 72160-9113
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 --
Departure City Reydell
Departure State AR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Reydell
Destination State AR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 27 2009 10:23AM
User who most recently changed record gamw
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --