Accident Details
On July 22, 2018, at approximately 1330 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301 airplane, registration N3169H, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain after takeoff from a private airstrip near Milford, Iowa. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an agricultural application flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed.
Sequence of Events
The operator reported that the pilot had conducted application flights earlier in the day. During the accident takeoff from the 2,000-foot-long by 50-foot-wide turf runway, the airplane reached about 8 feet above ground level when it "quickly whipped" to the left. The airplane subsequently impacted a corn field and came to rest upright approximately 70 feet west of the runway. The impact resulted in substantial damage to both wings and the aft fuselage.
Postaccident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector conducted a postrecovery airframe examination. Flight control continuity was confirmed, and no anomalies consistent with a preimpact malfunction were observed. The pilot informed the inspector that there were no issues with the engine during the accident takeoff. The pilot also commented that he commonly used a gentle rise in the runway to assist the airplane to become airborne during takeoff.
Weight Information
The operator reported that the airplane's weight at the time of the accident was approximately 5,840 pounds. The maximum allowable gross weight for the operation was 7,400 pounds. The airplane's chemical hopper was about one-half full at the time of the accident.