Air Tractor AT-301 N3659D

Summary

On 3 July 1994 at about 11:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N3659D, operated by Farm Air, Inc., was involved in an accident near Autaugaville, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 July 1994 at 11:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Autaugaville, Alabama, United States

Nearest airport

Mulberry Strip (NONE)

Coordinates

32.4308, -86.6490

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N3659D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Farm Air, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

ATL94LA130

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PLANNING, IN THAT HE DID NOT PROPERLY EVALUATE THE CONDITION OF THE RUNWAY PRIOR TO TAKEOFF, AND HIS FAILURE TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF WHEN ADEQUATE ACCELERATION WAS NOT OBSERVED. FACTORS WERE THE HIGH VEGETATION (GRASS) ON THE RUNWAY, AND THE TREES AT THE PERIMETER OF THE AIRSTRIP.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AG PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM THE GRASS AIRSTRIP WITH A FULL CHEMICAL LOAD. WHEN THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT ACCELERATE AS EXPECTED, HE LOWERED FLAPS, AND DUMPED THE HOPPER LOAD. THE AIRCRAFT MOMENTARILY BECAME AIRBORNE, THEN SETTLED, COLLIDING WITH SOME PINE TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WITH THE AIRCRAFT. HE DID REPORT THAT THE GRASS ON THE RUNWAY WAS EXCESSIVELY LONG.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.