N3169U

On August 22, 1995, at 1130 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N3169U, collided with the ground and a fence during takeoff from a plowed field near Dalhart, Texas. The pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The agricultural airplane, owned and operated by American Sprayers, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 137 when the accident occurred. The aerial application flight was intended to apply chemicals to a local field. No flight plan was filed and visual meteorological conditions prevailed.

The operator reported that, while spraying earlier that morning, the airplane's engine had "blown a cylinder" and the pilot was forced to land in a plowed circular field. The airplane was not damaged during the forced landing. After accomplishing the repairs to the engine, the pilot attempted to takeoff from the "grassy" edge of the plowed field. He reported that just as the "tail lifted", the left wing "struck the ground" and then the right wing "hit a fence."

Examination of the airplane, revealed structural damage to the right wing.