On August 29, 2005, an Air Tractor AT-502 (registration N4550N) operated by Newberg Sky Spray was involved in an aviation accident near Hector, MN. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to achieve adequate airspeed on takeoff which resulted in the airplane entering a stall/mush when it flew out of ground effect while crossing a large drainage ditch on takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During takeoff on a 2,800-foot runway, the pilot noticed insufficient power. The airplane lifted off at the end, crossed a drainage ditch losing ground effect, and came to rest in a corn field after the tail wheel hit a bank.
Accident Details
The accident occurred during takeoff on a 2,800-foot-long runway. The airplane was loaded with 450 pounds of insecticide at the time. According to the pilot, the airplane was not developing full power during the takeoff roll. When approximately halfway down the runway, the pilot realized the aircraft was struggling. As the airplane lifted off at the end of the runway, it was barely flying. The pilot had to cross a large drainage ditch, which caused a loss of ground effect. Subsequently, the main landing gear touched down, and the tail wheel struck the bank on the far side of the ditch. The airplane then came to rest in a corn field. The pilot reported that the local winds were from 300 degrees at 2 to 3 knots.