No fatalities

21 Oct 2013: AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502 — SRB AERIAL APPLICATORS LLC — Charleston, MS

Charleston, MS, United States

On 21 Oct 2013, an AIR TRACTOR INC AT 502 UNDESIGNAT operated by SRB AERIAL APPLICATORS LLC was involved in an aviation accident near Charleston, MS. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with a fence. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 13 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

During takeoff, the tail wheel lifted and settled, causing loss of directional control. The airplane veered off the runway and struck a fence, resulting in substantial damage.

Incident Overview

According to the pilot, during the takeoff roll, the tail wheel lifted off the runway and subsequently settled back down. When the tail wheel made contact with the runway surface, the pilot experienced a loss of directional control over the airplane. The aircraft then veered off the runway and collided with a fence.

Damage Assessment

As a result of the sequence of events, both wings and the fuselage sustained substantial damage.

Pilot Statements

The pilot reported that there were no issues with the flight controls but acknowledged losing directional control of the airplane. Additionally, the pilot mentioned a possible loss of engine power. However, a postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident.

Investigation Findings

No preexisting mechanical issues were identified that could explain the loss of control. The pilot's account indicates the tail wheel contact as the moment when directional control was lost.

Contributing factors

Directional control — Not attained/maintainedPilot