Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dunlap, Tennessee 37327
Monday, May 14, 2001 14:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

After reloading the airplane with chemicals, the pilot attempted a takeoff from the dirt staging airstrip. The airplane never successfully lifted off of the ground but collided with tree stumps on the departure end of the dirt strip and burst into flames. The airplane was destroyed and a functional examination of the engine was not accomplished. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported by the pilot.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to obtain liftoff airspeed for undetermined reasons. A factor was tree stumps on the departure end of the takeoff area.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/14/2001
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1430
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Dunlap
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37327
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2000
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1353 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KCNA
Elevation of weather observation facility 682
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 35
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.2
Density Altitude (feet) 3500
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KCHA 141853Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 25/08 A3020 RNJ A02
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11128
NTSB Notification Source OWNER
NTSB Notification Date May 15 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 4 2001 12:55PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Nashville FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N50997
NTSB Number ATL01LA055
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Air Tractor
Aircraft Model AT-602
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 602-0506
Certified Max Gross Weight 12500
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 Oct 9 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 400
Airframe Hours 1800
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Jim Thrash
Aircraft Owner Street Address 707 Highway 481
Aircraft Owner City Pelahtchie
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39145
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Thrash Aviation
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 676 Highway 481
Operator City Pelahtchie
Operator State MS
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 39145
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate --
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Dunlap
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
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? No
Evacuation occurred Yes
Date of most recent change to record Oct 11 2001 2:03PM
User who most recently changed record PREJ
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --