N8699S

On April 21, 2000, at 1300 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301 agricultural airplane, N8699S, was substantially damaged during takeoff from a private airstrip near Gould, Arkansas. The aircraft was registered to a private individual and operated by Rogers Flying Service of Gould, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.

The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that after takeoff to the south, the airplane could not maintain altitude, and it touched down 300 yards from the departure end of the runway. The aircraft bounced and traveled 100 yards before touching down again. The aircraft bounced again and traveled another 50 yards before touching down for the third time. The airplane continued to roll about 100 yards before becoming airborne. The aircraft struck power lines, impacted the ground, and came to rest upright facing west. The pilot reported that after the second bounce, he began to dump the 1,800 pounds of fertilizer from the hopper.

Examination of the airplane by the inspector revealed that the right wing spar was damaged. The right main landing gear was separated, and the left wing tip was damaged.

The pilot reported to the FAA inspector that there was "nothing wrong" with the engine, and that the crosswind was the problem. He further reported that the wind was from 280 degrees at 15 knots.

At 1250, the reported wind at the Grider Field Airport at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, located 22 nautical miles northwest of the accident site, was from 330 degrees at 9 knots.