# Accident 20000601040149A: Airtrc AT301, Garwood, TX, June 1, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 1, 2000, 19:20 local time
- Place: Garwood, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: A3NG
- Location: 29.4492° N, 96.5097° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4492&lon=-96.5097&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8886S, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8886S) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-301 (registry code 0390103, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIRTRC AT301
- Reported engine: PWA R1340AN1
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 30,336 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW00LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA168) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000601040149A

## Narrative

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

(.4)ON JUNE 1, 2000, AT 1920 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-301 AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE, N8886S, IMPACTED THE TERRAIN DURING A FORCED LANDING FOLLOWING A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER NEAR GARWOOD, TEXAS. THE AIRPLANE, OWNED BY ANF AIR SERVICE, INC., OF GARWOOD, TEXAS, WAS OPERATED UNDER 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 137. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS FATALLY INJURED, AND THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, AND A FLIGHT PLAN WAS NOT FILED. THE LOCAL FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM A PRIVATE TURF AIRSTRIP APPROXIMATELY 30-45 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE PILOT HAD DISPENSED HIS LAST LOAD OF FERTILIZER FOR THE DAY ON THE RICE FIELD AND WAS RETURNING TO THE AIRSTRIP, WHEN HE RADIOED TO THE PILOT OF ANOTHER AIRCRAFT THAT HIS AIRPLANE WAS VIBRATING, BUT HE HAD FULL ENGINE POWER. THE OTHER PILOT OBSERVED N8886S AT 150-100 FEET AGL ON A SOUTHWEST HEADING. THIS PILOT FLEW HIS AIRPLANE PAST N8886S HOWEVER, HE DID NOT SEE ANYTHING LOOSE ON THE AIRPLANE. HE TOLD THE PILOT OF N8886S THAT THERE WAS A FARM STRIP ABOUT 1 1/2 MILES WEST OF HIS POSITION. THE PILOT OF N8886S RESPONDED THAT HE "WOULD MAKE IT BACK TO THE HOME STRIP." ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER, THE PILOT OF N8886S RADIOED "IT QUIT." THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRCRAFT OBSERVED N8886S DESCEND AT A 15-20 DEGREE ATTITUDE WITH THE WINGS LEVEL. THE AIRPLANE (N8886S) HIT A DITCH BETWEEN TWO RICE FIELDS. THE AIRPLANE "HIT THE DITCH ENGINE FIRST AND TURNED OVER." THE OBSERVING PILOT REPORTED CLEAR SKIES WITH UNLIMITED VISIBILITY AND A SOUTHWEST WIND OF 8 KNOTS. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FOURTH AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT OF THE DAY IN N8886S. THE OPERATOR DID NOT MAINTAIN REFUELING RECORDS FOR THE AIRCRAFT. THE FUELING PERSONNEL RECALLED HAVING FUELED THE AIRCRAFT DURING THE DAY; HOWEVER, THEY DID NOT RECALL THE TIME OF THE LAST REFUELING.

## 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 FTW00LA168](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA168), Jun 2, 2000: Air Tractor AT-301 (N8886S), Garwood, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: the loss of engine power in cruise flight as a result of the failure of the right magneto. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.

## Other reports on N8886S (1)

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

- [Accident 20041013024289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041013024289A), Oct 13, 2004: Airtrc AT301 (N8886S), Cohoma, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) The flight originated out of the big spring airport at 1630 CDT approximately. No flight plan was filed. Approximately 20 minutes after take off, 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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