Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Clewiston, Florida 33430
Monday, July 10, 1995 16:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT TEMPORARILY TERMINATED SPRAY OPERATIONS DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER THEN ELECTED TO TAKEOFF WITH A BREAK IN THE WEATHER UNDER NO WIND CONDITION. DURING TAKEOFF THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH MARKER BARRELS AND SUGAR CANE PLANTS. THE PILOT STATED THAT POST ACCIDENT EVALUATION OF THE WIND REVEALED THAT HE ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND ASSOCIATED WITH A NEARBY THUNDERSTORM AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/10/1995
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CLEWISTON
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33430
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1656 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 280
Weather Observation Facility ID PBI
Elevation of weather observation facility 19
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 12000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 23
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 808
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 10 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1630
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:25PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9186J
NTSB Number MIA95LA180
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AIR TRACTOR
Aircraft Model AT-401
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-401
Aircraft Serial Number 401-0912
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 5 1995 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 3
Airframe Hours 397
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AYERS CROP DUSTING INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address FLAG HOLE ROAD ROUTE 2 BOX 175
Aircraft Owner City CLEWISTON
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33430
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code NJZG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1630
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --