Aircraft Overruns Runway After Fertilizer Load Takeoff

Casualties unknown • New Taiton, TX, US

An aircraft overloaded with nitrogen fertilizer departed a private grass strip in a tailwind, overrunning the runway and flipping over after striking obstacles.

What happened

The aircraft was observed departing from runway 35 of a private agricultural strip measuring 4,250 feet in length. The plane had been loaded to near its capacity limit with 46 percent nitrogen fertilizer. During the takeoff roll, data indicated the presence of an 11-knot tailwind on the grass surface, which increased the required takeoff distance by approximately 65 percent, or roughly 1,000 feet, bringing the total needed to about 2,235 feet.

After lifting off, the pilot initiated fuel dumping at mid-field. The aircraft crossed a fence running parallel to the runway but subsequently struck a second fence positioned perpendicular to the north end of the runway. Following this impact, the aircraft settled onto the ground in an adjacent pasture. Its right wing struck and rode up over a land plane before the aircraft hit a series of rice harrows supported by barrels. The force of these impacts caused the aircraft to flip over and slide to a stop in an inverted position.

The pilot sustained serious head and neck injuries during the accident sequence.

Probable cause

The pilot's decision to take off with an excessive weight load and a significant tailwind on a grass runway, which resulted in an extended takeoff roll and failure to clear obstacles.

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 1987-06-17 Cessna A188B accident near New Taiton, TX?

An aircraft overloaded with nitrogen fertilizer departed a private grass strip in a tailwind, overrunning the runway and flipping over after striking obstacles.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 1987-06-17 involved a Cessna A188B, registration N731XQ, at New Taiton, TX.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's decision to take off with an excessive weight load and a significant tailwind on a grass runway, which resulted in an extended takeoff roll and failure to clear obstacles.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20001213X31195. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.

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