# Accident 19980323004199A: Airtrc AT401, Steele, MO, March 23, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 23, 1998, 11:45 local time
- Place: Steele, MO
- Airport: Steele Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 36.0806° N, 89.8391° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0806&lon=-89.8391&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1524H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1524H-2020-05-01) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-401 (registry code 0390204, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Walter M601 series (registry code 64002, https://openairdocs.org/engine/walter-m601-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT401
- Reported engine: PWA R1340*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 6,500 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI98LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA108) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980323004199A

## Narrative

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

(.4)THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IT WAS HIS FIRST FLIGHT TO THE AIRPORT FOR THE YEAR. HE REPORTED THE AIRPORT WAS USED PRIMARILY BY AERIAL APPLICATOR PILOTS.  HE REPORTED THE CUSTOMARY PRACTICE AT THE AIRPORT DURING THE SPRAYING SEASON WAS FOR THE AIRPLANES TO LAND ON THE TAXIWAY AND TAKEOFF ON THE RUNWAY.  HE MADE A STRAIGHT-IN APPROACH TO THE RUNWAY FROM THE SOUTH.  HE LANDED ON THE TAXIWAY AND DURING THE LANDING ROLL-OUT, THE AIRPLANE HIT A PILE OF GRAVEL THAT HAD BEEN DUMPED IN THE CENTER OF THE TAXIWAY, MIDWAY FROM THE APPROACH AND DEPARTURE ENDS OF THE TAXIWAY.  HE REPORTED THAT IF HE HAD MADE A STANDARD DOWNWIND ENTRY INTO THE TRAFFIC PATTERN, HE WOULD HAVE MOST PROBABLY SEEN THE PILES OF GRAVEL ON THE TAXIWAY.  THE AIRPORT MANAGER REPORTED THE GRAVEL HAD BEEN DUMPED ON THE TAXIWAY FOR AIRPORT RECONSTRUCTION THAT WAS IN PROGRESS.  THE MANAGER REPORTED THAT THERE HAD NOT BEEN MUCH TRAFFIC AT THE AIRPORT RECENTLY.  HE REPORTED THAT A NOTAM HAD NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR THE CLOSED TAXIWAY.                                                    (-23)LOCAL AGRICULTURAL OPERATOR PROCEDURE DURING LOW VISIBILITY CONDITIONS IS TO TAKE OFF ON THE RUNWAY AND LAND ON THE TAXIWAY, IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN  TRAFFIC SEPARATION. WHILE LANDING ON THE TAXIWAY TOWARD THE SOUTH, N1524H STRUCK A PILE OF GRAVEL DUMPED ON THE TAXIWAY CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT.

## 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 CHI98LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA108), Mar 23, 1998: Air Tractor AT-401 (N1524H), Steele, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot failed to maintain an adequate visual lookout. A factor was the pile of gravel in the taxiway.

## Other reports on N1524H (1)

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

- [Accident 20000414005269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000414005269A), Apr 14, 2000: Airtrc AT401 (N1524H), Rupert, ID, No damage. (-23) Pilot attempted takeoff with too heavy of a load for the conditions of the day and collided with a large farm irrigation system that was located near the…

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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