# Accident 19980524019689A: Airtrc AT401, Rich, MS, May 24, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 24, 1998, 10:30 local time
- Place: Rich, MS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unauth Low Level Opns
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: P6YG
- Location: 34.3610° N, 90.5196° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3610&lon=-90.5196&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1008Y, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1008Y-2021-10-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-401 (registry code 0390204, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT401
- Reported engine: PWA R1340AN1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 800 total, 25 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB MIA98LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA181) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980524019689A

## Narrative

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

OVER BOOSTED ENGINE TRYING TO MISS UNFORSEEN WIRES. IMPACTED TAIL FIRST IN PLOWED FIELD. STRUCK FENCE POST. (.4) THE PILOT REPORTED TO THE FAA THAT HE WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRSTRIP AND WAS SIGHT SEEING, FLYING SLOW WHEN HE SAW SOME POWER LINES IN FRONT OF HIM.  HE PANICKED AND SHOVED THE POWER UP ABRUPTLY, THE ENGINE COUGHED AND BACKFIRED AND MUSHED INTO THE GROUND.  FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE AIRPLANE AND NO DISCREPANCIES WERE REPORTED WITH THE AIRFRAME OR THE ENGINE.  SEVERAL ATTEMPTS BY THE NTSB AND FAA TO REACH THE PILOT AND HAVE HIM RETURN THE NTSB FORM 6120.1/2, WERE NOT SUCCESSFUL.  ON NOVEMBER 25, 1998, THE PILOT RETURNED THE 6120.1/2.  HE SAID HE HAD MANY ADDRESSES SINCE THE ACCIDENT AND NEVER RECEIVED THE FORM.  A NEW FORM WAS SENT TO HIM, AND HE SAID WHILE HE WAS ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE 'FAILED...AT A LOW LEVEL,' AND HE HAD TO SET DOWN 'IMMEDIATELY.'  HE LANDED IN A BEAN FIELD.  HE SAID, '...THE PLANE LANDED FINE BUT THE TAILWHEEL BROKE OFF AND THE PLANE GROUND LOOPED...THE TERRAIN WAS ROUGH...BUT WAS FLAT.'                                                                 (-23) DELAYED REPORT: PILOT STATED HE WAS RETURNING TO FIELD AND WAS FLYING SLOW LOOKING AT SOME LAND. POWER LINES WERE NOTICED AND FULL POWER APPLIED ENGINE COUGHED, PILOT LANDED HARD IN BEAN FIELD. SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRCRAFT, NO INJURY TO PILOT. PILOT DID NOT REPORT ACCIDENT UNTIL LATER.

## 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 MIA98LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA181), May 24, 1998: Air Tractor AT-401 (N1008Y), Rich, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, resulting in a forced landing and subsequent impact with rough terrain.

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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