BUFFALO, WY, USA
N40443
Martin Company 404
N40443 WAS CONTRACTED BY THE WYOMING DEPT OF AG TO SPRAY GRASSHOPPERS. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PLT HELD A PVT CERTIFICATE WITH ASMEL RATINGS. HIS MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS DENIED BECAUSE HE FAILED TO PROVIDE INFORMATION CONCERNING HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND ALCOHOLISM. CO-PLT HELD A COMMERCIAL CERTIFICATE WITH ASEL RATING. NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE THAT EITHER PLT HAD ANY OPERATING EXPERIENCE IN THE MARTIN 404 ACFT. FORMER EMPLOYEES OF OPERATOR STATED THAT N40443 WAS NOT WELL MAINTAINED. THE ADI SYSTEM AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE INOP. WEIGHT OF ACFT AT THE TIME OF ACCIDENT WAS CALCULATED TO BE 44,492 POUNDS. THE MAX GROSS TOTAL WEIGHT FOR A 'DRY' TAKEOFF FROM A 4,500 FOOT RWY WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,900 POUNDS. THE FLT MANUAL PERFORMANCE CHARTS INDICATE THAT A RWY LENGTH OF OVER 5,500 FEET WOULD BE NEEDED FOR AN ACFT AT 44,492 POUNDS. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A DIRT BANK DURING TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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