- Date
- June 7, 2014, 16:07 local (21:07 UTC)
- Place
- Wilmont, AR
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N23034Ayres S2R T34
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 14, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20140607008419A
- Case key
- 89409
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Pilot's failure to verify the amount of chemical load on the airplane prior to takeoff which resulted in the airplane being heavier than expected. Contributing to the accident was loading crew not following the pilot's instructions.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated that on the day of the accident he had sprayed 13 loads of fertilizer and was beginning the 14th load when the accident occurred. The pilot informed the loading crew to load 400 gallons of fertilizer, which was the same amount that he had used on the previous flights. The pilot initiated the takeoff and the airplane became airborne, but was unable to gain enough altitude to clear the corn crop at the end of the airstrip. The airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage when it settled into the corn. The pilot reported that after the accident, it was determined that the hopper had been filled with 480 gallons of fertilizer. The pilot stated that since he cannot see how much fertilizer was loaded from his seat, he has to trust the loading crew to properly load the fertilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical issues with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that on the day of the accident he had sprayed 13 loads of fertilizer and was beginning the 14th load when the accident occurred. The pilot informed the loading crew to load 400 gallons of fertilizer, which was the same amount that he had used on the previous flights. The pilot initiated the takeoff and the airplane became airborne, but was unable to gain enough altitude to clear the corn crop at the end of the airstrip. The airplane received substantial damage to the fuselage when it settled into the corn. The pilot reported that after the accident, it was determined that the hopper had been filled with 480 gallons of fertilizer. The pilot stated that since he cannot see how much fertilizer was loaded from his seat, he has to trust the loading crew to properly load the fertilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical issues with the airplane that would have prevented normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N23034
- Reported as
- Ayres S2R T34 (T34)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- T34-259
- Built
- 1999
- Airframe hours
- 10,992
- Engine
- P&W PT6A SER, turbo prop
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Mcginty Flying Service Inc
- Registered owner
- Mcginty Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · December 20, 2013
- Departed
- PVT · Wilmont, AR
- Destination
- PVT · Wilmont, AR
- Airport
- PVT · Private, runway 09, 2,100 × 20 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 69
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 20, 2014
- Seat
- Center
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 199,334 total · 700 in this make and model · 19,929 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 91 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.90 inHg
- Observed at
- BQP, 27 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 6, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 54 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.