Everitt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Idalou, Texas 79329
Tuesady, October 8, 1996 17:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to an FAA inspector, the pilot was attempting to depart his 2,300 foot long dirt airstrip with a 3,040 pound payload of cotton defoliant for a local aerial application flight. He stated that the airplane failed to become airborne and overran the departure end of the airstrip. He added that the airplane managed to break ground, but its wheels dragged on cotton plants and eventually decelerated the airplane to the point where the flight could not be maintained. Subsequently, the airplane encountered furrows perpendicular to its takeoff path and was damaged. The pilot stated that 'the gross weight of the airplane exceeded the ability of the airplane to become airborne within the length of the runway.' The pilot added that 'attempts to jettison the load near the end of the strip were not in sufficient time to prevent running off the end of the runway.' Based on figures provided by the operator, the density altitude was calculated to be 9,500 feet. The approved airplane flight manual did not provide performance data on the required takeoff roll for this flight.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in an overrun during takeoff and an encounter with cotton (crop) and rough/uneven terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the excessive loading of the airplane for the existing conditions, the short runway, the high density altitude, and the pilot's delay in jettisoning the load.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/8/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1745
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City IDALOU
Event State TEXAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 79329
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport EVERITT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 3200
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) 29
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
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) 9500
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) 1087
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 8 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2050
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:24AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4533H
NTSB Number FTW97LA012
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-502
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-502
Aircraft Serial Number 502-0105
Certified Max Gross Weight 8000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 19 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 390
Airframe Hours 2580
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EMMETT R. EVERITT
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1058
Aircraft Owner City IDALOU
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79329
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 TTKG
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 1745
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 27
Runway Length 2300
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --