Air Tractor AT-301 N4443S

Summary

On 9 August 1998 at about 00:45 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N4443S, operated by TOM Kiefer, was involved in an accident near Edgeley, North Dakota, 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

9 August 1998 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Edgeley, North Dakota, United States

Nearest airport

Edgeley Municipal (51D)

Coordinates

46.3591, -98.7094

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N4443S

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

TOM Kiefer

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

CHI98LA305

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain flying airspeed resulting in a stall/mush condition during the initial climb. Contributing factors were the high density altitude, high aircraft weight, and pilot's delayed jettison of the load, as well as the roadway and crop.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The agricultural aircraft's certificated gross weight was 5,000 pounds. The pilot reported departing at 5,895 pounds. The temperature was 84 degrees F. with light and variable winds, and the pilot reported that the crash was a result of high density altitude. The pilot departed from a 2,485-foot asphalt runway to the west. He stated that 'Upon reaching the end of the runway, I proceeded to pull up. The a/c [aircraft] went into a 3pt attitude. I began to dump my load. The a/c flew in an uncontrolled manner for 100 yds then the right wing struck a gravel road sending me sideways into a cornfield for 300 ft then the a/c came to a stop.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.