# Accident 19980507046869A: Airtrc AT402, Forrest City, AR, May 7, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 7, 1998, 07:00 local time
- Place: Forrest City, AR
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 35.0106° N, 90.7805° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0106&lon=-90.7805&mi=10
- Aircraft: N91660, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91660-2013-10-23) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-402 (registry code 0390205, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series (registry code 52034, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT402
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA205) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980507046869A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT WAS MAKING AN EASTERLY SWATH REN OVER A RICE FIELD. THE SUN WAS IN THE EAST (07:00 LOCAL TIME). THE WINDSHIELD HAD SOME SPRAY PARTICLES ON IT FROM PREVIOUS SWATH RUNS. THESE TWO FACTORS COMBINED CAUSED THE FORWARD VISIBILITY TO BE POOR.  THE PILOT, UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO FLY LOW ENOUGH THAT THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND PROPELLER STRUCK A RICE LEVEE IN THE FIELD BEING TREATED.  THE LANDING GEAR WAS TORN OFF THE AIRPLANE WHEN IT STRUCK THE LEVEE.  THE PILOT PULLED UP OVER A POWER LINE AND CONTINUED EAST.  HE STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOSING POWER AND IT WOULD NOT SUSTAIN FLIGHT. THE PILOT EXECUTED A LANDING IN A SMOOTH FIELD TO THE EAST OF THE RICE FIELD.  THE PROPELLER HAD GONE TO THE FEATHER POSITION BEFORE THE LANDING WAS EXECUTED.

## 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 FTW98LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA205), May 7, 1998: Air Tractor AT-402 (N91660), Forrest City, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with terrain. Factors were the sunglare and the pilot's restriction to visibility due to chemicals on the windshield.

## Other reports on N91660 (1)

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

- [Accident 20020520011209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020520011209A), May 20, 2002: Airtrc AT402 (N91660), Hughes, AR, No damage. (-23) On may 20, 2002, approximately 0740 central daylight time, an air tractor 402 agricultural airplane, N91660, sustained substantial damage while landing…

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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