ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 281367
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Wednesday 10 August 2022 |
| Time: | 09:30 LT |
| Type: |  Air Tractor AT-502 |
| Owner/operator: | Schwenk Aircraft Inc. |
| Registration: | N73194 |
| MSN: | 502-0014 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1988 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 12354 hours |
| Engine model: | Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-15AG |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Appleton, MN (AQP/KAQP) -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Agricultural |
| Departure airport: | Appleton Municipal Airport, MN (KAQP) |
| Appleton Municipal Airport, MN (KAQP) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot stated that he listened to the airport's automated weather station broadcast before taxi and, at that time, the surface wind was from 080° at 8 knots. However, while he taxied to runway 13 the airport's windsock direction was consistent with a surface wind from the north-to-northeast. Before takeoff, he relistened to the airport's automated weather station broadcast, which still reported the surface wind was from 080° at 8 knots. Believing the automated weather station report was accurate, the pilot continued with a takeoff on runway 13.
The pilot stated the takeoff was conducted with 10° of flaps extended but recalled that the takeoff roll was longer than normal. He kept the control stick full aft and to the left (into the wind) during the initial takeoff roll. After the airplane accelerated to 60 mph, he pushed the control stick forward to raise the tail, but the airplane suddenly veered left and off the left side of the runway into a drainage ditch. The pilot was unable to regain directional control with a full right rudder input. During the runway excursion, the right main landing gear separated which resulted in substantial damage to both wings when they impacted the ground. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or anomalies with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.
The pilot believes a left quartering tailwind may have contributed to his loss of directional control during takeoff. He also opined that the surface wind direction reported by the airport's automated weather station was incorrect, which led him to believe using runway 13 was appropriate for the reported wind direction. A review of the airport's automated weather station data revealed the reported surface wind direction was 080°-090° in the minutes before and after the accident. A postaccident weather model for the airport included an east-northeast surface wind (061°) at 4.5 knots. Based on the pilot's windsock observation, the unintentional left veer during the takeoff roll was likely due to the pilot not maintaining directional control with a left quartering tailwind.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll with a quartering tailwind.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB CEN22LA389
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=73194
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 11-Aug-2022 14:40 | AgOps | Added |
| 12-Aug-2022 00:44 | johnwg | Updated [Time, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 12-Aug-2022 00:45 | johnwg | Updated [Departure airport] |
| 12-Aug-2022 08:22 | AgOps | Updated [Time] |
| 04-Apr-2024 09:57 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation