FTW99LA137

The pilot of the agricultural airplane was performing his 16th approach of the day into the private airstrip when, during the landing flare, 'a gust of wind picked up [the] left wing and moved [the aircraft] to the right.' The right wing contacted a strip of grass, which was approximately 5 feet tall, along the right side of the runway. The aircraft subsequently 'cartwheeled' to the right and came to rest inverted on the west side of the runway. The pilot reported winds at the time of the accident to be from 130 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 20 knots.

On May 11, 1999, at 1350 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502A agricultural airplane, N166MM, was substantially damaged while landing at the South Stoesser Airstrip near Huffman, Texas. The airplane was owned by Southeastern Aircraft Sales of Fort Pierce, Florida, and operated by M and M Air Service of Beaumont, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 137 local aerial application flight, and a flight plan was not filed.

According to the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) submitted by the commercial pilot, it had rained approximately one inch the night prior to the accident. About 0900, the commercial pilot departed the operator's base in Beaumont "to look at airstrip conditions after the rain." He chose South Stoesser Airstrip, a private field, as "it was the dryest to use." After his ground crew relocated to the airstrip, the commercial pilot began fertilizing milo about 1150.

Throughout the day, the commercial pilot performed repeated takeoffs and landings to the south from the 2,600 foot turf runway. After delivering the 16th load of the day, the commercial pilot again returned to South Stoesser Airstrip. During the landing flare, "a gust of wind picked up [the] left wing and moved [the aircraft] to the right." The right wing then contacted a strip of grass, which was approximately 5 feet tall, along the right side of the 150 foot wide runway. The aircraft subsequently "cartwheeled" and came to rest inverted on the west side of the runway.

The 33-year old commercial pilot had accumulated a total of 1,517 flight hours, of which 51 hours were in the 1,174 horsepower turbine powered airplane.

The pilot reported that the winds at the time of the accident were from 130 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 20 knots. At 1353, the winds at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas, 19 nautical miles from the accident site, were reported to be from 150 degrees at 16 knots.

According to an FAA inspector, who examined the airplane at the accident site, the fuselage was separated aft of the pilot's seat. The propeller blades, wing tips, landing gear, rudder, ailerons and elevators were also damaged.