What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On October 14, 1999, at 1013 CDT air tractor model AT-301, N23930, owned and oeprated by burkett flying service made a forced landing in a cotton field near Olton, Texas. To avoid striking an irrigation pipe the pilot applied the brakes nosing the aircraft over. The a/c came to rest inverted. The pilot stated he had expereinced engine vibration, and he immediately executed a forced landing in the cotton field. Inspection of the a/c revealed approx. 1/2 of one of the propeller blades had separated from the a/c in flight. Closer investigation revealed the propeller appeared to have suffered damage caused by a wire strike, however, there were no broken high wires in the immediate area of the crash. The pilot did not recall striking any wires.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON OCTOBER 14, 1999, AT 1013 CDT AIR TRACTOR MODEL AT-301, N23930, OWNED AND OEPRATED BY BURKETT FLYING SERVICE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A COTTON FIELD NEAR OLTON, TEXAS. TO AVOID STRIKING AN IRRIGATION PIPE THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES NOSING THE AIRCRAFT OVER. THE A/C CAME TO REST INVERTED. THE PILOT STATED HE HAD EXPEREINCED ENGINE VIBRATION, AND HE IMMEDIATELY EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING IN THE COTTON FIELD. INSPECTION OF THE A/C REVEALED APPROX. 1/2 OF ONE OF THE PROPELLER BLADES HAD SEPARATED FROM THE A/C IN FLIGHT. CLOSER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE PROPELLER APPEARED TO HAVE SUFFERED DAMAGE CAUSED BY A WIRE STRIKE, HOWEVER, THERE WERE NO BROKEN HIGH WIRES IN THE IMMEDIATE AREA OF THE CRASH. THE PILOT DID NOT RECALL STRIKING ANY WIRES.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N23930 · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.