Accident Overview
On March 8, 2013, at approximately 1600 central daylight time, a Grumman 164B airplane, registration N6902K, veered off the left side of the runway during an attempted takeoff at a private airstrip in Beech Grove, Arkansas. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to its left wing after impacting terrain.
Aircraft and Operator
The airplane was registered to HDS, Inc. and operated by Kin-CO Ag Aviation, Inc. under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was originating when the accident occurred.
Pilot Actions
According to a statement provided by the pilot, the airplane was loaded with 114 gallons of fuel and 250 gallons of weed killer, which he described as a normal load for this type of operation. He checked his seat belt and shoulder harness and centered the airplane on the runway. During the takeoff roll, the pilot reported that the airplane became “light,” prompting him to attempt to become airborne. The airplane then settled back down onto the runway, bounced off the right main landing gear, and veered off the left side of the runway. The left wing subsequently contacted the ground, and the airplane bounced into an open field.
Investigation Findings
The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The investigation did not identify any contributing factors beyond the described sequence of events.