Air Tractor AT-301 N23257

Summary

On 8 May 2013 at about 21:00 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N23257, operated by R&B Flying, was involved in an accident near Lyons, Kansas, 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

8 May 2013 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Lyons, Kansas, United States

Coordinates

38.3283, -98.2097

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N23257

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

R&B Flying

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lyons → Lyons

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA265

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's diverted attention after the door hinge failed and a piece of door glass struck the pilot, resulting in the airplane's descent into the crops and impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While leveling off the airplane at the start of an aerial application run, the pilot heard a loud bang and was struck on the shoulder by a piece of the right door's acrylic glass. The pilot was momentarily distracted after being struck, and the airplane settled into the crops. The crops slowed the airplane, and the pilot could not get the airplane to climb before it impacted terrain. An examination of the airplane revealed that the right door's hinge was cracked at the front and rear attach points. The broken hinge allowed the door to open in flight.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.