# NTSB ATL89DKJ10: Piper PA-36-285, N57581, Atmore, AL, August 22, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 22, 1989, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Atmore, AL
- Coordinates: 31.020908, -87.490318 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.0209&lon=-87.4903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 7840
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL89DKJ10
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/7840/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL89DKJ10

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES (THE CROP) DURING AN AGRICULTURAL SPRAY RUN.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application
  - terrain condition - crop
  - maneuver - attempted, pilot in command (cause)
  - landing gear,main gear - entangled (cause)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - pull-up - not possible
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

ON APPROACH TO A FIELD FOR A SPRAY RUN THE PILOT FLARED THE AIRPLANE AND THE WHEELS STRUCK THE CROP. HE WAS UNABLE TO PULL UP AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF THE CHEMICAL PERMETHRIN LEAKED OUT INTO THE FIELD. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE LANDING GEAR BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE CROP AND PULLED THE ACFT DOWN TO GROUND CONTACT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N57581 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA-36-285
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 36-750117
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Farmers Air Service, Inc., doing business as Farmers Air Service, Inc.
- Registered owner: Farmers Air Service
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 16, 1989, 85 hours before
- Departed: OR2, ATMORE, AL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 12,271 total, 818 in this make and model, 12,261 as pilot in command, 192 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point -0 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MOB, 40 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890822031239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890822031239A), Aug 22, 1989: Piper PA36285, Atmore, AL, Substantial damage. Descended too low into field to be sprayed. Wheels caught in crop and aircraft crashed.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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