NTSB CAROL · Event
Event WPR14CA294
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
The pilot's decision to take off with a tailwind, which resulted in the airplane not attaining sufficient airspeed for takeoff.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that he was on his sixth chemical application load of the day. He had a full load of chemicals (500 gallons), which brought the airplane close to maximum gross weight. During takeoff the airplane did not achieve rotation speed before it approached the end of the 2,700-foot-long runway. The pilot raised the nose to take off attitude, the airplane lifted off then settled back down, colliding with a barbwire fence and an irrigation ditch. The horizontal stabilizer and elevator were substantially damaged. Another Ag pilot who witnessed the accident stated that the pilot had taken off with a 6-knot tail wind. There was no report of a mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that he was on his sixth chemical application load of the day. He had a full load of chemicals (500 gallons), which brought the airplane close to maximum gross weight. During takeoff the airplane did not achieve rotation speed before it approached the end of the 2,700-foot-long runway. The pilot raised the nose to take off attitude, the airplane lifted off then settled back down, colliding with a barbwire fence and an irrigation ditch. The horizontal stabilizer and elevator were substantially damaged. Another Ag pilot who witnessed the accident stated that the pilot had taken off with a 6-knot tail wind. There was no report of a mechanical failure or malfunction with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12
NTSB Findings
Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).
- C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
- C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Incorrect action selection-Pilot - C
- — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Tailwind-Effect on operation
- C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot - C
- — Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Fence/fence post-Contributed to outcome
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_2014_WPR14CA294.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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