Air Tractor AT-301 N7308E

Summary

On 19 June 1997 at about 14:05 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N7308E was involved in an accident near Las Animas, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 June 1997 at 14:05

Classification

Accident

Location

Las Animas, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

38.0602, -103.2197

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N7308E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

La Junta → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW97FA229

1 person died.

in-flight collision with terrain, while maneuvering, for undetermined reason(s).

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

There were no witnesses to the accident. The pilot was reported to have been almost finished spraying a 33 acre corn field with a herbicide called 'Lightning.' The airplane was found burning in a field that was on an approach and adjacent to the field being sprayed. The sheriff reported that the wind was calm. The pilot had been treated for Reiter's Syndrome for the previous 3 years. Reportedly, the condition was under control with prescribed medication. Toxicology tests disclosed no evidence of alcohol, drugs, cyanide, or carbon monoxide. About a week after the accident, the farmer reported finding two areas of stunted and discolored corn at opposite ends of his field. The NTSB was not made aware of this finding until four months after the accident. Soil sample tests disclosed a trace amount of oil and grease.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.