Dubbs Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Tunica, Mississippi 38676
Tuesady, June 24, 1997 16:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was attempting to takeoff with the airconditioner on and with a 5 knot tailwind on a 93 degree F., day. He applied takeoff power and reported normal power and acceleration for the temperature and wind conditions. At rotation, the airplane became airborne momentarily then touched down in a bean field. The airplane then bounced and he initiated dumping of the load of chemical but the airplane descended into the field. He stated to an FAA inspector that the airplane was probably over loaded for the existing wind and temperature conditions and there was no engine failure or malfunction.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilots poor preflight planning preparation for attempting to takeoff with a tailwind and with the hopper loaded 3/4 full during a 93degree F., day at a density altitude of 2,400 feet.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/24/1997
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1630
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City TUNICA
Event State MISSISSIPPI
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38676
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DUBBS
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 200
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1651 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 36
Weather Observation Facility ID MEM
Elevation of weather observation facility 332
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 31
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 9
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 34
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 2400
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) 531
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 25 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1018
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:21PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N45461
NTSB Number MIA97LA195
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 502-0124
Certified Max Gross Weight 9200
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 Feb 24 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 151
Airframe Hours 4016
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TUNICO, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 356
Aircraft Owner City TUNICA
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38676
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name TUNICA AIR SERVICE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1084 MOCKINGBIRD ST.
Operator City TUNICA
Operator State MS
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 38676
Operator Code
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 NONE
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
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 23
Runway Length 1700
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --