# Accident 20140824015459A: Air Tractor Inc AT-401, Natchitoches, LA, August 24, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 24, 2014, 18:05 local time
- Place: Natchitoches, LA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: RZIG
- Location: 30.6067° N, 92.9517° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6067&lon=-92.9517&mi=10
- Aircraft: N91968, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91968-2018-01-10) (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: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-401
- Reported engine: P&W R1340 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 6,904 total, 2,591 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN14LA450](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA450) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140824015459A

## Narrative

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

ON CLIMB OUT PILOT EXPERIENCED LARGE ?POP? AND SMOKE FROM ENGINE. STARTED BACK TO STRIP, DUMPED LOAD AND CRASHED. PILOT GOT OUT AND PLANE CAUGHT FIRE.

## 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 CEN14LA450](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA450), Aug 24, 2014: Air Tractor AT-401 (N91968), Natchez, LA, destroyed. Probable cause: The loss of power due to the failure of the No. 2 exhaust valve and rocker boss during takeoff.

## Other reports on N91968 (1)

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

- [Accident 20000125043979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000125043979A), Jan 25, 2000: Airtrc AT401 (N91968), Rayville, LA, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 25, 2000, at approximately 1055 local time (CST) an agricultural aircraft, an air tractor AT-401, N91968, registered to and operated by…

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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