# Accident 19980323011539A: Airtrc AT301, Imperial, CA, March 23, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 23, 1998, 17:00 local time
- Place: Imperial, CA
- Airport: Private
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LSUG
- Location: 32.8600° N, 115.6501° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8600&lon=-115.6501&mi=10
- Aircraft: N7301P, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7301P-2000-05-18) (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 R1340*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 15,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA128) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980323011539A

## Narrative

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

STRUCK A DIRT BERM AFTER LIFTOFF. CRASH LANDED.(.4) ON MARCH 23, 1998, AT 1700 HOURS PACIFIC STANDARD TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT301, N7301P, COLLIDED WITH A BERM AFTER TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE DIRT STRIP 5 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST OF THE IMPERIAL, CALIFORNIA, AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT, OPERATED BY VISCO FLYING COMPANY UNDER 14 CFR 137 AS AN AGRICULTURAL CROP DUSTING OPERATION, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS EXISTED FOR THE FLIGHT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. REPORTED TEMPERATURE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 91 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT, AND THE DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS COMPUTED AT 2,300 FEET. IN AN INTERVIEW WITH A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) INSPECTOR FROM THE SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT HAD APPROXIMATELY 280 TO 300 GALLONS OF PESTICIDE ONBOARD AND FULL FUEL. HE REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED "SLUGGISH" AND WOULD NOT LIFT OFF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MADE AN UNSUCCESSFUL ATTEMPT TO JETTISON THE LOAD, AND THAT THERE WERE NO MECHANICAL DIFFICULTIES NOTED WITH THE AIRCRAFT. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THAT THE PILOT ATTEMPTED AN UNSUCCESSFUL TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT JUST BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND CAME TO REST IN A COTTON FIELD. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE ATTEMPTED THE TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 26. THE IMPERIAL AIRPORT, 5 MILES NORTH-NORTHEAST, WAS REPORTING WINDS FROM 120 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS AT THE TIME. A WITNESS TO THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THAT AS THE AIRCRAFT WENT BY HIM IT WAS VERY LOUD AND SOUNDED AS IF IT WAS OPERATING AT FULL POWER. THE FAA INSPECTED THE AIRCRAFT ON-SCENE AND ESTABLISHED FLIGHT CONTROL AND ENGINE CONTINUITY. NO FURTHER DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED.

## 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 LAX98LA128](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA128), Mar 24, 1998: Air Tractor AT301 (N7301P), Imperial, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of the wrong runway, which resulted in a downwind takeoff attempt, and, his failure to obtain/maintain a proper airspeed during the takeoff sequence. The aircraft's gross weight…

## Other reports on N7301P (1)

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

- [Incident 19900818042999I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900818042999I), Aug 18, 1990: Airtrc AT301 (N7301P), Imperial, CA, Minor damage. On a swath run directly into sun pilot failed to see ditch. Struck bank of ditch. Knocked gear off. Landed safely.

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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