Air Tractor AT-301 N3168X

Summary

On 26 June 2013 at about 23:25 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N3168X, operated by Semper FI Aviation LLC, was involved in an accident near Colome, South 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

26 June 2013 at 23:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Colome, South Dakota, United States

Coordinates

43.3767, -99.8589

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N3168X

Category

Airplane

Year built

1984

Engines

1

Operator

Semper FI Aviation LLC

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Winner → Colome

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA375

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a postaccident engine run revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the start of his third spray pass, he cleared the telephone wires located at the edge of the field. Once over the field, he immediately noticed the engine power reduce. He attempted to pull back on the control stick to gain altitude, but the airplane's tail and right wing struck the field. During the forced landing roll, the right landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. No water was found in the fuel system, and the weather conditions were not conducive for carburetor icing. A postaccident engine run was conducted, and no anomalies were observed that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.