# Accident 19970815022579A: Airtrc AT301, Waynesboro, GA, August 15, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 15, 1997, 21:30 local time
- Place: Waynesboro, GA
- Airport: Burke County Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 33.0909° N, 82.0109° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0909&lon=-82.0109&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4411S, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4411S-1997-12-02) (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: 12,888 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 750 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA97LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA233) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970815022579A

## Narrative

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

AIRCRAFT ENGINE FAILED DURING AERIAL APPLICATION AND AIRCRAFT CRASHED AND FLIPPED OVER. (.4)AFTER COMPLETION OF SPRAY APPLICATION WHILE RETURNING TO THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, THE ENGINE EXPERIENCED A PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER AND ENGINE OIL BEGAN COVERING THE WINDSCREEN.  THE PILOT INITIATED A FORCED LANDING ON A ROAD BUT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE DRIFTED OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH AND NOSED OVER.  EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE HEAD OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER WAS CRACKED FROM ONE SPARK PLUG HOLE TO THE OTHER.           (-23) ENGINE LOSS POWER AFTER TAKEOFF. AIRCRAFT MADE FORCED LANDING INTO FIELD. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE #1 CYLINDER (P/N 399359, CYLINDER HEAD SPLIT FROM SPARK PLUG HOLE TO SPARK PLUG HOLE. M & D REPORT SUBMITTED & SAFETY RECOMMENDATION INITIATED.

## 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 MIA97LA233](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA233), Aug 16, 1997: Air Tractor AT-301 (N4411S), Waynesboro, GA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The obscured vision of the pilot due to oil covering the windscreen. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of engine power due to a cracked head of one of the cylinders and unsuitable…

## Other reports on N4411S (3)

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

- [Accident 19830628038129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830628038129A), Jun 28, 1983: Airtrc AT301 (N4411S), Fairfax, SC, Substantial damage. Starved engine of fuel by abrupt nose over after jumping a wire. Power not restored in time to avoid ground impact.
- [Accident 19800815036299A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800815036299A), Aug 15, 1980: Airtrc AT301 (N4411S), Erhardt, SC, Substantial damage. Engine suffered internal break-up during spray run. Crash landed. Blower bearing failure from previous prop strike.
- [Accident 19800526014749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19800526014749A), May 26, 1980: Airtrc AT301 (N4411S), Eunice, LA, Substantial damage. Tried to take off with ag aircraft loaded over gross weight. Ran off end of runway. Nosed over.

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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