On April 3, 1998, an Air Tractor AT-401 (registration N1008T) was involved in an aviation accident near Highmore, SD. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: the pilot failed to abort the takeoff in a timely manner and could not stop on the runway. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During takeoff roll, the pilot noticed abnormal acceleration and low RPM. After checking propeller control, he veered right to avoid a highway, went through a fence, and broke the left landing gear. Engine later appeared normal; water found in right fuel cell.
Accident Details
The pilot reported that during the takeoff roll he noticed the airplane was not accelerating normally. He checked the manifold pressure and RPM's, and saw that the RPM's were low. He then checked the propeller control, which was at full forward. To avoid a highway at the end of the runway, the pilot veered to the right. The airplane went through a fence and into a pasture, breaking the left landing gear as it slid to a stop.
Aircraft Examination
The airplane was inspected after the incident. The engine was started and run to approximately 1,800 RPM, and the operation appeared normal. Additionally, a small amount of water was drained from the right fuel cell.