FTW98LA140

After filling his aerial application aircraft with 350 gallons of liquid fertilizer, the pilot began his takeoff roll. As the airplane's tail lifted off of the ground, the right main landing gear entered a rut, which resulted in the aircraft decelerating and veering to the right into soft ground. Subsequently, the aircraft 'flipped' over onto its back. The pilot stated that he and the landowner drove 'up and down the airstrip stopping several times to test the condition of the strip' prior to his initial landing to the strip. He further stated that '[he] noticed the strip to be a little rough but [he] felt that it was firm enough to work off of.' The pilot reported that during his initial landing he did not notice any problems with the strip.

On March 3, 1998, at 1645 central standard time, an Air Tractor AT-502B agricultural airplane, N60762, owned and operated by Hensley Flying Service of Eudora, Arkansas, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during takeoff roll near Lake Village, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained minor injuries. The flight was originating from an unimproved road approximately 3 miles west of Lake Village, Arkansas.

The pilot stated that he and the landowner drove "up and down the airstrip stopping several times to test the condition of the strip" earlier in the day. He further stated that "[he] noticed the strip to be a little rough but [he] felt that it was firm enough to work off of." Later in the day, the pilot landed on the strip at 1615 and did not notice any problems with the strip. Thirty minutes later, after filling his aircraft with 350 gallons of liquid fertilizer, he began his takeoff roll. He relayed that as the tail of the aircraft "got light," the aircraft "rolled into a rut." Subsequently, the aircraft "nosed over" and "flipped."

Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed that the vertical stabilizer and the left wing tip were damaged. The top of the fuselage in the vicinity of the cockpit was crushed, and the engine was displaced approximately 30 degrees to the right.