AUTAUGAVILLE, AL, USA
N3659D
Air Tractor AT-301
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.
On July 3, 1994, at 0600 central daylight time, an Airtractor AT-301, N3659D, collided with trees during takeoff from a private, sod airstrip near Autaugaville, Alabama. The aerial application flight operated under 14 CFR Part 137 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the pilot was not injured. The accident occurred during the initial takeoff of the day. According to the pilot, with a full load of chemicals, and tall grass on the takeoff surface, the airplane would not accelerate sufficiently to accomplish a safe takeoff. He lowered additional flaps, to no effect. As the runway end approached, he dumped the chemical load, and the aircraft lifted off. As he closed the dump gate, the aircraft settled again, and collided with some small pine trees, located 250 feet beyond the runway end. His safety recommendation after the accident was to cut the grass, because it was too high at the end of the strip. He reported no aircraft mechanical failure or malfunction, after the accident.
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.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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