21 Apr 2020: Air Tractor AT 602 No Series — Central Farmers Flying Service

21 Apr 2020: Air Tractor AT 602 No Series — Central Farmers Flying Service

No fatalities • Mamou, LA, United States

Probable cause

The airplane's encounter with a sunken area during takeoff from a turf runway, which resulted in the airplane becoming prematurely airborne and impacting a tree and then terrain.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The pilot reported that the turf airstrip had a "sunken area" which created a "ramp." During takeoff, when the airplane encountered this portion of the airstrip, it became "airborne prematurely." The airplane subsequently settled into ground effect; however, the left wing impacted a small tree near the end of the runway. The collision caused the airplane to pitch "downward and left" and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane came to rest in a muddy rice field off the end of the runway with damage to the wings and fuselage.

Contributing factors

  • cause Effect on operation
  • cause Effect on operation

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 130/05kt, vis 10sm

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