Private Airstrip Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bogata, Texas 75417
Friday, August 17, 2012 16:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that he completed two successful aerial application flights from the same 2,000-foot turf runway before the accident flight. For the next chemical application, the airplane was loaded on downsloping terrain, in a tail-high attitude, just before the accident flight. This position may have affected the accuracy of the sight gauge. The pilot was distracted during the chemical loading and refueling and did not recheck the level of the chemical in the hopper. In a postaccident interview, the pilot stated that after loading, the airplane exceeded its maximum gross weight by about 500 pounds. The temperature was about 95 degrees Fahrenheit and the wind was from 270 degrees at 5 knots. The pilot departed with 10 degrees of flaps. The airplane became airborne but did not get out of ground effect. According to the pilot, the airplane “sagged” and the left main landing gear hit an embankment. The airplane landed in the adjacent cornfield and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He stated that a dust devil may have affected the airplane’s performance.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in the airplane’s loading beyond its maximum gross weight.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/17/2012
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1600
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Bogata
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 75417
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 332814N
Event Location Longitude 0951249W
Event Location Airport Private Airstrip
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 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 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) 35
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
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) 30801
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ASW-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 22 2013 1:26PM
User who most recently changed record coln
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6047G
NTSB Number CEN12CA568
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-0266
Certified Max Gross Weight --
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAN AERO INC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 306 QUAIL STREET
Aircraft Owner City HOOKS
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 75561
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name DAN AERO INC
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 306 QUAIL STREET
Operator City HOOKS
Operator State TX
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 75561
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 Bogata
Departure State TX
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1545
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Bogata
Destination State TX
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 29 2012 2:33PM
User who most recently changed record silj
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 18
Runway Length 2000
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --