# Accident 20071206828499A: Airtrc AT401, King City, CA, December 6, 2007

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 6, 2007, 10:30 local time
- Place: King City, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: LSHG
- Location: 36.3742° N, 121.4142° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.3742&lon=-121.4142&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6024M, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6024M-2011-12-16) (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
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 11,000 total, 5,000 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX08CA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA034) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071206828499A

## Narrative

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

(-23) THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED HE WAS STARTING HIS SECOND PASS OF THE AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT, WHEN HE BECAME DISTRACTED SETTING UP HIS "GPS UNIT FOR SWATH GUIDANCE." HE STATED HE LOOKED UP AND SUDDENLY FOUND HIMSELF IN A BOX CANYON WITH RISING TERRAIN AND NO ROOM TO REVERSE DIRECTION. HE JETTISONED HIS 1000 POUND LOAD OF SEED TRYING TO LIGHTEN THE AIRCRAFT BUT STILL LACKED ENOUGH LIFT TO GET THE AIRCRAFT TURNED AROUND. THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK A TREE WITH THE RIGHT WING. AFTER COMING TO A STOP THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE CAUGHT FIRE CONSUMING THE AIRCRAFT. ONLY THE OUTER WING SECTIONS REMAINED UNBURNED. THE PILOT MANAGED TO EGRESS THE AIRCRAFT AND CLIMB CLEAR THROUGH THE BURNING BRUSH, RECEIVING MINOR BURNS TO HIS ARM AND HANDS.

## 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 LAX08CA034](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA034), Dec 6, 2007: Air Tractor AT-401 (N6024M), Soledad, CA, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from mountainous terrain while maneuvering during an aerial application mission. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention…

## Other reports on N6024M (1)

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

- [Accident 19990527005899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990527005899A), May 27, 1999: Airtrc AT401 (N6024M), Jerome, ID, Substantial damage. Acft engine quit shortly after take-off, and the pilot made an emergency landing.(-23)a/c lost power and pilot was forced to alnd in a field. A/c hit an…

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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