N6073U

On July 21, 1999, at 1200 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B agricultural airplane, N6073U, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff from a private airstrip near Marvel, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Griffin Ag, Inc., of Wabash, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

In the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that while nearing the departure end of the runway during the takeoff, he noticed the airplane "was not wanting to fly." He stated that he "opened the dump handle and started releasing fertilizer from the hopper." He added that at the end of the runway there was a 2-foot incline with cotton planted on top. When he got to the incline, the pilot pulled back on the stick and got the airplane off of the ground, but not over the cotton, which dragged against the wheels.

According to the FAA inspector, who visited the accident site, the pilot took off with a "heavy load of fertilizer." The airplane departed to the north from a half paved, half turf runway measuring approximately 3,000 feet long. The FAA inspector stated that at the departure end of the runway, there was a thin-walled plastic pipe carrying water for crops. Physical evidence indicated that the airplane impacted the pipe and continued to "skim the top of the cotton field for 2,000 feet." The airplane came to rest inverted in the cotton field.

The FAA inspector stated that the fuselage was structurally damaged and twisted to the left just aft of the pilot's station. The right and left wings, empennage and propeller blades sustained damage. The FAA inspector added that the temperature at the time of the accident was approximately 95 degrees Fahrenheit.