N9184R

On July 17, 1998, about 1700 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor 502, N9184R, registered to Air Crop Care, Inc., collided with terrain during takeoff from a dirt road near Clewiston, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The pilot stated that the fuel tanks were full and the hopper was loaded with 3,600 pounds of dry fertilizer; nearly 7/8 full. He initiated a takeoff to the east using the second half of a mile-long dirt road. The airplane became airborne and cleared a 10-foot-tall exhaust of a pump located at the end and slightly to the right of the runway centerline. The flight continued but began descending, during which, the left wing of the airplane collided with sugarcane about 50 feet past the departure end of the runway. The airplane yawed to the left coming to rest upright on a heading 180 degrees from the takeoff heading. The pilot further stated that there was no mechanical failure or malfunction and at the time of takeoff, the wind was from the west-southwest at 2-3 knots.