Air Tractor AT-301 N3159D
13 April 1989 · Fort Pierce, Florida, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 13 April 1989 at about 17:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N3159D, operated by S.eastern Aerial Crop SVC., was involved in an accident near Fort Pierce, Florida, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 17:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Fort Pierce, Florida, United States
- Coordinates
- Not recorded
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Registration
- N3159D
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- S.eastern Aerial Crop SVC.
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Fort Pierce → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- MIA89LA127
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
FAILURE OF THE NUMBER FIVE CYLINDER. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PROXIMITY OF HOMES IN THE AREA, WHICH PRECLUDED JETTISONING OF THE CHEMICAL LOAD, AND HIGH VEGETATION IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT ENG STARTED TO GRADUALLY LOSE POWER, THEN STARTED MISSING. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN SOME PALMETTO BUSHES, WHICH DAMAGED THE ACFT'S LANDING GEAR & WINGS. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THE #5 CYLINDER ASSEMBLY WAS CRACKED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER. THE PLT NOTED THAT THERE WERE HOMES IN THE AREA, WHICH PRECLUDED HIM FROM JETTISONING HIS LOAD.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Air Tractor AT-301 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct 1989 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Belle Glade, Florida, United States | Air Crop Care Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jun 1989 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Americus, Georgia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Apr 1989 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Grangeville, Idaho, United States | Thomas Hill | Minor injuries | - |
| 27 Jun 1989 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Rio Hondo, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 May 1989 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Arcola, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Sep 1989 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Mendota, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Mar 1989 | Cessna 172H | Melbourne, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 23 Mar 1989 | Piper AEROSTAR 600 | Jacksonville, Florida, United States | Top Flight Air Service | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Mar 1989 | Bellanca 7KCAB | Daytona Bch Shr, Florida, United States | Aerial Messages, Inc. | Fatal | 1 |
| 8 Apr 1989 | Beechcraft C-45H | Tampa, Florida, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Apr 1989 | Coutz QUICKIE Q-2 | Lake City, Florida, United States | Rowe, Reardon L. | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Apr 1989 | Cessna 150M | Miramar, Florida, United States | Tursair, Inc. | Serious injuries | - |