Primary finding
Probable cause
A premature liftoff. Factors were the tall, wet grass and a tail wind component.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
Takeoff was attempted in a 5 knot quartering tail wind, off of a sod strip that was wet and had tall grass. In addition, the outside air temperature was 90 degrees. The pilot stated that the airplane settled back onto the runway after liftoff. He added all remaining power, increased the flap setting, and began dumping the load. The airplane eventually became airborne, but was unable to clear a tree line at the end of the runway. The airplane collided with the trees and crashed.
Source record
Factual narrative
On July 19, 1994, at 1715 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-501, N6073J, was destroyed when it collided with trees near Marianna, Arkansas. The airplane, flown by a commercial pilot, was departing on what was to have been a local aerial application flight. There was no flight plan filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot was not injured. According to the pilot, he was departing to the west from the private sod strip which was oriented 090/270, and measured 2,650 feet by 75 feet. The winds were reported as being from 135 degrees at 5 knots. He stated that the airplane was "making good power" and that he had no indications of any mechanical failure. The operator stated that the strip was wet and the grass long and that coupled with the temperature, the airplane lifted off later than normal. The pilot stated that after lift off, the airplane settled back onto the runway in tall grass and weeds. He further stated that he added all the remaining power, increased the flap setting, and began dumping the load. The airplane eventually became airborne, but was unable to clear a tree line at the end of the runway. The airplane collided with the trees and then impacted the ground. -