Air Tractor AT-401 EC-EJF Collision with Stone Wall During Takeoff at Pozoblanco

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 30 May 2005, an Air Tractor AT-401, registration EC-EJF, serial number 4010685, operated by Trabajos Aéreos Extremeños, S. A., was involved in an accident at Pozoblanco, Córdoba. The aircraft was powered by a single Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1 engine. The pilot in command was a 50-year-old commercial pilot with 5,905 total flight hours and 2,015 hours on type. The aircraft was loaded with 500 kg of agricultural pesticide and 350 liters of fuel for a nearby farm treatment. ## Flight Phase and Sequence of Events The aircraft was operating from a 600-meter provisional runway with compacted ground and patches of grass. The runway could only be used in a west-east direction due to an electrical line in the opposite direction. At the time, the sky was overcast, and the wind was variable with northwest gusts of approximately 16 knots. During the takeoff roll, the pilot determined that the aircraft did not have sufficient speed for a safe takeoff before the end of the runway. Using a slight depression in the terrain beyond the runway, the pilot activated the emergency drop system and attempted to climb for approximately 200 meters. The aircraft did not gain altitude and collided with its landing gear and left wingtip against a stone wall enclosing a farm. ## Damage and Casualties The impact caused the aircraft to rotate 180 degrees from its pre-impact trajectory. The left wing sustained significant frontal damage affecting the outer half, and the landing gear shifted backward with the loss of the main wheels. The fuselage folded to the left, displacing the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The propeller tips were bent backward, but the engine area was not affected. The flaps were found nearly fully deployed. The pilot was uninjured, and the aircraft sustained major damage. A stone wall was destroyed, and the terrain was contaminated by a chemical spill. ## Analysis and Contributing Factors The aircraft was operating below its certified maximum takeoff weight of 3,560 kg. A propulsion system malfunction was ruled out. The investigation identified two primary factors that likely prevented the aircraft from climbing after overflying 200 meters from the runway end: prevailing wind conditions and flap selection. Tailwind and a slight left crosswind increased the required takeoff distance. The pilot was aware of the runway limitation due to the electrical line but proceeded with the takeoff. The flap setting was near maximum, which increased drag during takeoff and prevented the aircraft from reaching the appropriate takeoff speed with the available power.