Air Tractor AT-401 N6024M
27 May 1999 · Jerome, Idaho, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 27 May 1999 at about 14:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-401 registered N6024M, operated by Spray Craft, was involved in an accident near Jerome, Idaho, 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 14:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Jerome, Idaho, United States
- Coordinates
- 42.7293, -114.4295
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Registration
- N6024M
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Spray Craft
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Jerome → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- SEA99LA075
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
Fuel exhaustion. Carburetor contamination and rough terrain were factors.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot departed the airport, with approximately 75 gallons of fuel on board, and flew approximately 19 miles to the spray location. Approximately 45 minutes into the flight, the pilot noticed the fuel quantity gauge indication was decreasing at a higher than normal rate, and he elected to return to the airport. Eight miles from the airport, the aircraft began to lose power and the pilot elected to initiate a forced landing in an open field. During the landing roll, the aircraft struck a lava bed, causing substantial damage to the aircraft. An FAA inspector inspected the aircraft and reported that there was no evidence of fuel in the aircraft's fuel tanks. He also stated there was no evidence of a preexisting fuel leak. Post-accident inspection of the aircraft's carburetor revealed that the mixture control back-suction bleed tube in the carburetor bowl assembly was plugged. According to the certificate holder of the carburetor, a blockage of the mixture control back-suction bleed tube would result in a rich mixture situation. Normal fuel consumption for this aircraft is 32 gallons to 35 gallons per hour.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Air Tractor AT-401 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Sep 1999 | Air Tractor AT-401 | Caledonia, Mississippi, United States | Floyd C. Lowry | No injuries | - |
| 25 Aug 1999 | Air Tractor AT-401 | Hart, Texas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 2 Aug 1999 | Air Tractor AT-401 | Moore Haven, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Aug 1999 | Air Tractor AT-401 | Humphrey, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 14 Apr 2000 | Air Tractor AT-401 | Acequia, Idaho, United States | Mallard, Alma D. | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 May 1998 | Air Tractor AT-401 | Rich, Mississippi, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 Jul 1999 | Air Tractor AT-502 | Shelley, Idaho, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 4 Nov 1999 | Kaman K-1200 | Emida, Idaho, United States | Mountain West Helicopters, LLC | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jul 1999 | Piper PA-31-350 | Garden Valley, Idaho, United States | Salmon Air, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Sep 1999 | Gentry SERIES 5 VIXEN | Naples, Idaho, United States | Daniel Byler | Fatal | 2 |
| 13 Mar 1999 | Piper PA-28-140 | Rexburg, Idaho, United States | Dean R. Hathaway | Serious injuries | - |
| 15 Sep 1999 | Stinson 108-2 | Burley, Idaho, United States | - | No injuries | - |