20150328005399A

On March 28, 2015 at approximately 1730 local time, a commercial pilot was involved in an aircraft accident while taking-off in a Cessna T188C at Burdett, Kansas (SN29) with the intent of conducting aerial application in accordance with 14 CFR part 137. On departure from runway 16 at SN29, with the wind direction 120 /140 degrees and speed of 8 to 10 miles per hour, the aircraft veered off to the left into the tall grass on the side of the runway. The airman elected to continue the takeoff and once airborne attempted to maneuver the aircraft back towards the departure runway. The aircraft?s right wing subsequently impacted a barb-wire fence on the east side and parallel to the runway causing substantial damage.

The aircraft departed SN29 with approximately 120 gallons of pesticide in the hopper for the purpose of agricultural application when the accident occurred; upon impact the fluid within the hopper was expelled onto the ground. The aircraft also had approximately 25 gallons of fuel in each wing system prior to initiating the flight. The post-accident on-scene investigation determined the aircraft had sustained substantial damage; no engine or flight control anomalies were discovered that would have contributed to the accident.