# Accident 20240627010549A: Air Tractor Inc AT-301, Andover, MO, June 27, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 27, 2024, 10:40 local time
- Place: Andover, MO
- Airport: Lamoni Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: CC6G
- Location: 40.5675° N, 93.9117° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5675&lon=-93.9117&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3165C, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3165C) (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: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-301
- Reported engine: P&W R1340 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 918 total, 301 in this make and model, 56 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA241) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240627010549A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED WITH FULL FUEL AND 1700 LBS OF GRANULATED FERTILIZER. APPROXIMATELY THREE MILES FROM THE DEPARTURE AIRPORT, THE PILOT NOTICED A STEADY LOSS OF ALTITUDE THAT COULD NOT BE MITIGATED WITH APPLICATION OF FULL ENGINE POWER. IN AN ATTEMPT TO MAKE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A SUITABLE FIELD, THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE TOP RESULTING IN A STALL SPIN AND THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO THE FIELD.

THE ACCIDENT SCENE WAS CONSISTENT WITH THE AIRCRAFT CARTWHEELING INTO THE FIELD AFTER STRIKING THE TREE TOP.

THE ENGINE, PROPELLER AND ENGINE MOUNT ASSEMBLY, SEPARATED FROM THE FUSELAGE AND CAME TO REST IN THE ORIGINAL IMPACT CRATER. THE HEAVILY DAMAGED, YET STILL MAINLY INTACT FUSELAGE, WAS LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 15-30 YARDS BEYOND THE ENGINE/PROPELLER ASSEMBLY.

VISUAL INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED NO APPARENT PRE-CRASH ANOMALIES. FAA INSPECTORS TOOK FUEL SAMPLES FROM EACH AVAILABLE SUMP AND NOTED A YELLOWISH COLOR CONSISTENT WITH THAT OF AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE. THERE WERE NO PLACARDS NEAR THE FUEL CAPS, INDICATING AUTHORIZED USE OF AUTOMOTIVE GASOLINE. THE AIRCRAFT FLIGHT MANUAL AND WEIGHT & BALANCE INFORMATION COULD NOT BE LOCATED AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. FAA INSPECTORS CALCULATED DENSITY ALTITUDE AT JUST OVER 4100 FEET MSL.

## 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 CEN24LA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA241), Jun 27, 2024: Air Tractor AT-301 (N3165C), Andover, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inability to maintain altitude and airspeed during cruise flight likely due to a decrease in engine performance associated with the unauthorized use of automobile fuel, which led to 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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