Air Tractor Inc AT-401B N5081W accident near Storm Lake, Iowa

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a landing approach with a tailwind that resulted in a landing overrun and impact with terrain.

NTSB analysis

The commercial pilot reported that he was attempting to land on dew-covered grass runway following an aerial application flight when the airplane overran the runway and nosed over coming to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident the airplane was landing on runway 31 with wind 110o at 4 knots. The pilot reported that the accident was the result of the airplane being too fast during the final approach with a tailwind and the dew-covered runway.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN21LA393 for the full record.