Air Tractor AT401 accident near Kenmare, North Dakota, June 4, 2012
On June 4, 2012 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT401, registered N4547Q, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff (rejected takeoff) near Kenmare, North Dakota (Kenmare Municipal Airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during an aborted takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 4, 2012 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Kenmare, North Dakota · Kenmare Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT401 UNDESIGNAT
- Registration
- N4547Q · registry record · serial 401-0792
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to take off for an agricultural application flight with the airplane loaded near gross weight. During the takeoff roll, the pilot thought that the airplane would not attain flight. The pilot aborted the takeoff about halfway down the runway without dumping the load of agricultural applicant. With about 400 feet of runway remaining, the pilot applied reverse thrust, and the airplane ground looped. Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Miscellaneous/other during takeoff
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Loss of control on ground during takeoff (rejected takeoff) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,433 hours in all; 474 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 30, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,138.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 27, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Walter M601E-11 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7K5 Kenmare ND at 2:30 pm
- Destination: 7K5 Kenmare ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 3,700 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from MIB, 32 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.