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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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March 28, 1983 · Piper PA-18A-150 · N6983D

Mountain Park, OK

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 28, 1983
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Mountain Park, OK
Aircraft
Piper PA-18A-150
Tail Number
N6983D
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
FTW83LA168

The pilot stated that he was taking off to the north on a highway for a crop spraying operation. The aircraft was loaded with 720 pounds of chemical and 36 gallons of fuel. He perceived a breeze from the south but took off north because of a hill to the south. The aircraft was rotated after about 1500 feet with vehicular traffic in sight. To avoid flying over the traffic, the pilot turned left over a wheat field bordered by 20-30 foot tall trees. He realized he was not maintaining altitude and became concerned with clearing the trees, so he lowered the flaps to 20 degrees and dumped his chemical load. While continuing the turn to avoid the trees, the left wing contacted the ground causing the aircraft to cartwheel to a stop, upright. After the accident, the pilot realized that the southerly wind had increased to about 10 mph. Aircraft weight at the time of the accident was approximately 2229 pounds. According to the aircraft log, maximum gross weight at takeoff is 2070 pounds.

Full Narrative

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS TAKING OFF TO THE NORTH ON A HIGHWAY FOR A CROP SPRAYING OPERATION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS LOADED WITH 720 POUNDS OF CHEMICAL AND 36 GAL OF FUEL. HE PERCEIVED A BREEZE FROM THE SOUTH BUT TOOK OFF NORTH BECAUSE OF A HILL TO THE SOUTH. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ROTATED AFTER ABOUT 1500 FEET WITH VEHICULAR TRAFFIC IN SIGHT. TO AVOID FLYING OVER THE TRAFFIC THE PILOT TURNED LEFT OVER A WHEAT FIELD BORDERED BY 20-30 FOOT TALL TREES. HE REALIZED HE WAS NOT MAINTAINING ALTITUDE AND BECAME CONCERNED WITH CLEARING THE TREES SO HE LOWERED THE FLAPS TO 20 DEGREES AND DUMPED HIS CHEMICAL LOAD. WHILE CONTINUING THE TURN TO AVOID THE TREES, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO CARTWHEEL TO A STOP, UPRIGHT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THE SOUTHERLY WIND HAD INCREASED TO ABOUT 10 MPH. AIRCRAFT WEIGHT AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS APRX 2229 POUNDS. ACCORDING TO THE AIRCRAFT LOG MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT AT TAKEOFF IS 2070 POUNDS.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time16:00 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftPiper PA-18A-150
Tail NumberN6983D
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-A2A · Reciprocating · 150
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 22 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind145° @ 5 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data