K.C. Harlin Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Swifton, Arkansas 72471
Monday, August 15, 1988 15:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION OPERATION, THE PILOT SAID HE WAS UNABLE TO ESTABLISH A POSITIVE CLIMB. AFTER TRAVELING ABOUT 1 MILE, HE ELECTED TO DUMP HIS DRY FERTILIZER LOAD. WHEN HE DUMPED THE LOAD, THE INCREASED AERODYNAMIC DRAG CAUSED BY THE AIR BLOCK ON THE LARGE SPREADER, PLUS THE HIGH AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AND DENSITY ALTITUDE AND COMPARATIVELY LOW AIRSPEED, CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL/MUSH INTO THE TERRAIN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/15/1988
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SWIFTON
Event State ARKANSAS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 72471
Event Date Year 1988
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport K.C. HARLIN
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 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 180
Airport Elevation 240
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1557 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID LIT
Elevation of weather observation facility 260
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 80
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 37
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 19
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) 2000
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) 1227
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 16 1988 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 37320
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:04PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8856Q
NTSB Number MKC88LA159
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 ROCKWELL
Aircraft Model S-2R
Aircraft Series Identifier S-2R
Aircraft Serial Number 2342R
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
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 Apr 20 1988 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 350
Airframe Hours 2500
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name WHITED FLYING SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address BOX 273
Aircraft Owner City MONETTE
Aircraft Owner State AR
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 72447
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City SWIFTON
Departure State AR
Departure Country
Departure Time 1525
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 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 80
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --