Accident Overview
On July 24, 2019, at approximately 1105 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602 airplane, registration N50634, impacted terrain during a forced landing near Walls, Mississippi. The pilot sustained no injuries, while the airplane incurred substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The aircraft was registered to and operated by Delta Dusters II LLC under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight.
Flight and Loading Sequence
The pilot reported having applied fungicide for several hours before returning to the airport for another load. During refueling, a loader used a forklift to tilt the fuel tank, allowing fuel to flow toward the suction hose. Approximately 100 gallons of fuel were added. After loading was complete, the pilot departed. He stated that the takeoff was normal until about one-quarter mile past the end of the airstrip, at which point the engine lost power, resulting in a forced landing. The airplane had been functioning normally up to that moment.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. A large quantity of water contamination was documented in the fuel system components. No other preimpact anomalies were detected during the examination.