Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Atmore, Alabama 36502
Tuesady, August 22, 1989 8:45 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

ON APPROACH TO A FIELD FOR A SPRAY RUN THE PILOT FLARED THE AIRPLANE AND THE WHEELS STRUCK THE CROP. HE WAS UNABLE TO PULL UP AND THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. AN UNKNOWN AMOUNT OF THE CHEMICAL PERMETHRIN LEAKED OUT INTO THE FIELD. THE PLT REPORTED THAT THE LANDING GEAR BECAME ENTANGLED IN THE CROP AND PULLED THE ACFT DOWN TO GROUND CONTACT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM OBSTACLES (THE CROP) DURING AN AGRICULTURAL SPRAY RUN.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/22/1989
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 845
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City ATMORE
Event State ALABAMA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 36502
Event Date Year 1989
Event Date Month 8
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 Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 848 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 45
Weather Observation Facility ID MOB
Elevation of weather observation facility 350
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 40
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 1400
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) 12
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 30
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 14
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 Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency FAA
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 779
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 22 1989 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 910
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 40280
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 12:57PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N57581
NTSB Number ATL89DKJ10
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 PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-36-285
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-36-285
Aircraft Serial Number 36-750117
Certified Max Gross Weight 4400
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jan 16 1989 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 85
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FARMERS AIR SERVICE
Aircraft Owner Street Address RT 4 BOX 159A
Aircraft Owner City ATMORE
Aircraft Owner State AL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 36502
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name FARMERS AIR SERVICE, INC.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address ROUTE 4, BOX 159A
Operator City ATMORE
Operator State AL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 36502
Operator Code LLEG
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 OR2
Departure City ATMORE
Departure State AL
Departure Country
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone CST
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 Maneuvering
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 --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --