FTW00LA189

The agricultural airplane, carrying a full load of fertilizer, 'could not fly out of ground effect' during takeoff from a private airstrip. As the airplane neared the end of the airstrip and encroached on an irrigation system, the pilot pulled the nose of the airplane up and initiated a load dump. The pilot stated that he did not put the dump handle in the emergency dump position, and the fertilizer 'was not dumped quick enough.' The airplane stalled after clearing the irrigation system and impacted the ground. The density altitude, at the time of the accident, was calculated by the NTSB investigator-in-charge to be approximately 5,730 feet. The pilot reported that a 'lighter load for conditions' would have prevented this accident.

On June 29, 2000, at 1230 central daylight time, a Piper PA-36-285 agricultural airplane, N57596, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during takeoff from a private airstrip near Bovina, Texas. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by Rhodes Crop Care, Inc., of Bovina, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries. 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.

According to the FAA inspector, who responded to accident site, the pilot was departing the private airstrip with a full load of fertilizer. The FAA inspector stated that, during the takeoff, the airplane "could not fly out of ground effect." He added that when the airplane neared the end of the runway and encroached on an irrigation system, "the pilot pulled up on the nose to clear the irrigation system and initiated a load dump." The pilot stated that he did not put the dump handle in the emergency dump position, and the fertilizer "was not dumped quick enough." The FAA inspector stated that the airplane stalled after clearing the irrigation system and impacted the terrain nose first. The fuselage sustained structural damage.

In the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), under the section titled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented), the pilot wrote, "lighter load for conditions." The density altitude, at the time of the accident, was calculated by the NTSB investigator-in-charge to be approximately 5,730 feet.