Air Tractor AT-301 N8673S

Summary

On 12 July 1995 at about 23:15 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N8673S was involved in an accident near Grygla, Minnesota, 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.

Date

12 July 1995 at 23:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Grygla, Minnesota, United States

Coordinates

48.2903, -95.6102

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N8673S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI95LA219

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND/OR CLEARANCE AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SPRAY RUN. A FACTOR WAS TURBULENCE DUE TO THE DIFFERENT AIR TEMPERATURES OF ADJOINING TERRAIN.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE PILOT HAD COMPLETED THREE SPRAY RUNS OVER A FIELD OF SUNFLOWERS. WHILE FLARING IN PREPARATION FOR THE FOURTH SPRAY RUN THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO THE SUNFLOWERS AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND. ON-SCENE INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WITH THE AIRFRAME OR ENGINE THAT WOULD PREVENT NORMAL FLIGHT. DURING DISCUSSIONS WITH THE PILOT IT WAS REVEALED THAT THE SUNFLOWER FIELD WAS WET, AND THAT IT WAS SURROUNDED BY PASTURES AND A HAYFIELD THAT HAD RECENTLY BEEN CUT. THE OUTSIDE AIR TEMPERATURE WAS 90 DEG F. THE APPROACH TO THE FIELD WAS BORDERED BY A LINE OF 30-FT HIGH TREES.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.