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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

May 28, 1999 · Air Tractor AT-502 · N4533H

Cherry Valley, AR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 28, 1999
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Cherry Valley, AR
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-502
Tail Number
N4533H
Operator
Michael a Burnette
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW99LA152

The agricultural airplane stalled and impacted terrain after the pilot prematurely pulled the airplane off the ground during the takeoff roll to avoid colliding with a truck that entered the airstrip. The pilot reported that the elevated dirt airstrip was also used as an access road. The hopper was filled with a load of rice seed to be dispensed on a nearby field, and the airplane had been topped off with fuel. The airplane's takeoff ground roll for the previous flight had been much shorter due to the lighter load and cooler temperature. The 14,232-hour pilot reported that soon after the tail wheel came off the ground, he observed a white pickup entering the airstrip/road. The driver of the pickup truck, who was also the farmer whose fields were being seeded, had observed previous takeoffs, but was not aware of how the airplane was loaded for this flight.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's inadvertent stall due to his evasive maneuver to avoid colliding with a truck on the runway. A factor was the runway incursion by the truck.

Full Narrative

On May 28, 1999, at 1250 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502 agricultural airplane, N4533H, was substantially damaged following an abrupt maneuver to avoid a vehicle during takeoff from an airstrip near Cherry Valley, Arkansas. The instrument rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered to Riddell Flying Service, Inc., of West Helena, Arkansas, and operated by Burnette Aviation, Inc., of Hickory Ridge, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight for which a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported to an FAA inspector and on the enclosed NTSB Form 6120.1/2, that he attempted to takeoff to the north from an elevated dirt airstrip which is also used as an access road. The pilot stated that the hopper was filled with a load of rice seed to be dispensed on a nearby field. The pilot further stated that the turbine powered tail wheel equipped airplane was also topped off with fuel prior to the accident flight. The pilot added that the takeoff ground roll for the airplane "had been much shorter on the 2 previous flights due to the lighter loads and the cooler temperatures." The 14,232-hour pilot reported that during the takeoff roll, soon after the tail wheel came off of the ground, he observed a white pickup entering the airstrip/road from a west cross-levee road. The driver of the pickup truck, who was the farmer whose fields were being seeded, had observed previous takeoffs but was not aware of how the airplane was loaded. As the airplane closed to within a few feet of the pickup truck, the pilot intentionally "pulled the aircraft off the strip to the east" in an attempt to avoid colliding with the truck and the driver. The pilot added that the airplane immediately stalled and fell into the rice field below the elevated road/strip. The airplane came to rest in a flooded rice field, approximately 25 yards short of the cross levee where the truck and the driver were sitting. Examination of the airplane by the owner and the operator revealed structural damage to the right wing and the empennage. The right main landing gear and the tail wheel were found separated from the airframe.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:50 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Runway Width20 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-502
Tail NumberN4533H
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorMichael a Burnette
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A-15AG · Turboprop · 680
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 44 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind100° @ 5 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time17:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data