Air Tractor Inc AT-802 accident near Benoit, MS
On July 25, 2021, an Air Tractor Inc AT-802 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Benoit, MS. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 25, 2021
- Place
- Benoit, MS
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor Inc AT-802 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 33.603°N, 91.023°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210725103535
Official records · CEN21FA334
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn July 25, 2021, about 0745 central daylight time, an Air Tractor 802 airplane, N363BG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Benoit, Mississippi. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. The intent of the flight was to apply product to a bean field located about 3.5 miles southwest of Benoit, Mississippi. According to the operator, the airplane had 225 gallons of Jet A fuel and 635 gallons of product before takeoff. The airplane was operating from a private grass strip that was 2,164 ft long and 100 ft wide that was oriented on a magnetic heading of about 230°. Witnesses stated that they observed a normal takeoff roll but that, at the departure end of the runway, the airplane struck an embankment, nosed over, and came to rest inverted in the field. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot’s last aviation medical examination was on December 18, 2020. At that time, he reported no medication use and no active medical conditions. He was issued a second-class medical certificate limited by a requirement to wear lenses for distant vision and have glasses for near vision. AIRCRAFT INFORMATIONAccording to the AT-802/802A takeoff ground roll distance chart, the airplane’s total ground roll distance with a weight of 13,630 pounds, a field elevation of 128 ft above ground level, and a temperature of 27°C would have been 2,050 ft on a paved runway. According to the airframe manufacturer, for a takeoff on a turf, a runway factor of 1.
Probable cause
The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s takeoff performance capabilities and his failure to abort the takeoff in a timely manner. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to his use of ethanol and prohibited medications.
More accidents in MS
- Beech A36TC, May 16, 2016
- Cessna 336, Sep 15, 2004
- Piper PA-24-180, May 8, 1999
- Mooney M20C, Jul 30, 2005
- Beech A36, Dec 3, 1983
Browse: Mississippi · Air Tractor aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
