Air Tractor INC AT 502B accident near Qulin, Missouri, May 27, 2018
On May 27, 2018 at about 5:00 pm local time, a 1995 Air Tractor INC AT 502B, registered N6180J, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Qulin, Missouri (Private 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 improper weight-and-balance calculations and his decision to take off with the airplane at a high gross weight in high density altitude conditions, which resulted in an attempted takeoff that exceeded the airplane’s performance capability. Also causal was the pilot’s failure to abort the takeoff while sufficient runway remained.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 2018 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Qulin, Missouri · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT 502B B, built 1995 · all AT 502Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6180J · no longer on the register · serial 502B-0329
- 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 reported that the agricultural airplane was loaded with 2,700 lbs of product and 130 to 140 gallons of fuel. He stated that the engine gauges had normal indications but that, during the takeoff, the airplane's tailwheel was still on the ground when the airplane was about 3/4 down the runway, and the airplane did not become airborne before the end of the runway. When the airplane reached the end of the runway, he applied full flaps to "jump" a drainage ditch at the end. The airplane then impacted the ground on the opposite side of the ditch and incurred substantial damage to the wings, landing gear, aft fuselage, and tail surfaces. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Based on the reported fuel and product load on board, the airplane's calculated gross weight was about 523-574 lbs over the airplane's maximum gross weight. In addition, the density altitude at the time of the accident was about 2,200 ft.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weight/balance calculations › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Capability exceeded
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,616 hours in all
- Last flight review: April 5, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,219 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 2018
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-45R (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Dannys Air Agri Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Qulin MO at 5:00 pm
- Destination: PVT Qulin MO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from POF, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on December 5, 2019. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Weight and Balance Calculations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Inspector's Statement | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Record Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Excerpt from Airplane Manuals | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.