The pilot reported that the turf airstrip in Mamou, Louisiana, had a “sunken area” which created a “ramp.”
During takeoff, when the Air Tractor AT 602 encountered this portion of the airstrip, it became “airborne prematurely.”
The airplane subsequently settled into ground effect, however the left wing hit a small tree near the end of the runway. The collision caused the airplane to pitch “downward and left” and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude.
The airplane came to rest in a muddy rice field off the end of the runway with damage to the wings and fuselage.
Probable Cause: The airplane’s encounter with a sunken area during takeoff from a turf runway, which resulted in the airplane becoming prematurely airborne and impacting a tree and then terrain.
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This April 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Did the pilot know about the runway before the accident?