# Accident 19890913034869A: Airtrc AT301, Mendota, CA, September 13, 1989

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 13, 1989, 08:50 local time
- Place: Mendota, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: RQNG
- Location: 36.6704° N, 120.4505° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6704&lon=-120.4505&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8578S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8578S-1999-07-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-301 (registry code 0390103, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT301
- Reported engine: PWA R1340AN1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 3,220 total, 848 in this make and model, 206 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX89DVA10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DVA10) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890913034869A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

MUSHED INTO GROUND IN A HIGHWAY MEDIAN WHILE MANEUVERING FOR A SPRAY RUN. STALL WARNING WIRES NOT CONNECTED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX89DVA10](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DVA10), Sep 13, 1989: Air Tractor AT-301 (N8578S), Mendota, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A LOSS OF AIRCRAFT CONTROL BY THE PILOT WHEN HE SLOWED THE AIRCRAFT TO BEGIN A SPRAY RUN. CONTRIBUTING TO THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS THE INOPERATIVE STALL WARNING SYSTEM.

## Other reports on N8578S (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 19790716016439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790716016439A), Jul 16, 1979: Airtrc AT301 (N8578S), Mendota, CA, Substantial damage. Dragged wing tip in cotton field turning final for ag. Strip. Possible down draft factor, pilot error.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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