# NTSB ATL01LA099: Air Tractor AT-401, N91922, Batesville, MS, August 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 2001, 16:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Batesville, MS - Coordinates: 34.31084, -89.930557 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3108&lon=-89.9306&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Jackson FAA FSDO-07 - NTSB case key (mKey): 53240 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA099 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53240/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA099 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The Air Tractor collided with trees and the ground during an attempted forced landing after a loss of engine power. According to the pilot, the engine power lost power during climb out from a swath run. As the pilot established a glide toward a hay field for an emergency landing, he attempted to restore engine power. The airplane struck trees, then the ground and caught fire. The post-crash fire prevented a functional examination of the airplane and engine assembly. ## Factual narrative On August 28, 2001, at 1610 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401, N91922, registered to Cole and Turman Flying Service of Batesville, Mississippi, collided with trees and the ground then caught fire after a loss of engine power during an aerial application of pesticides to a field in Batesville, Mississippi. The agricultural flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed, and the commercial pilot received minor injuries. The flight had departed Panola County Airport in Batesville, Mississippi, at 1500. While conducting an aerial application of pesticides to a field, the pilot initiated a climb after departing a spray swath. During the climb, the airplane lost engine power, and the pilot established a glide and turned left toward a hay field. The pilot stated, "At the point where the engine failed, I didn't see any way to make an off airport landing without hitting trees or unsuitable terrain." The pilot stated, "I tried switching the magneto selector to each left and right position with no change in power and pumped the manual fuel pump (wobble pump) which also resulted in no change. It was at this point that the plane contacted trees along the creek bank that runs North and South." After colliding with the trees, the airplane came to rest in a flat attitude in the adjacent field and caught fire. The pilot saw flames immediately on the sides of the fuselage and exited the left side of the airplane. The airplane had departed Panola County Airport with a full oil reservoir (eight gallons), 126 gallons of 100LL fuel, and 50 gallons of a 95% malathion solution (pesticide). The pilot estimated that, at the time of the accident, the airplane held 7.5 gallons of oil, 80 gallons of fuel, and 36 gallons of pesticide. The pilot had checked the engine instruments before spraying the last swath of field and said the oil pressure and engine temperature appeared normal. Examination of the wreckage revealed burn-pattern evidence in the header tank, wing tanks, and pesticide hopper consistent with the presence of both fuel and pesticide at the time of ignition. Aluminum components were found melted. Two cylinders, the magnetos, and the carburetor were also fire damaged. Extensive fire damage prevented a functional examination of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91922](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N91922-2002-01-11), registration cancelled 2002-01-11, S/N 401-0931, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-401 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-401](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (registry code 0390204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 401-0931 - Airframe hours: 3440 - Engines: P&W R1340 Series 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2001 - Departed: K0M6, Batesville, MS - Airport: K0M6, Panola County Airport, runway 010, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review March 12, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 3,054 total, 291 in this make and model, 3,009 as pilot in command, 272 in the last 90 days, 71 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 999° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: GWO ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010828023619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010828023619A), Aug 28, 2001: Airtrc AT401, Batesville, MS, No damage. (.19) On August 28, 2001, at 1600 central daylight time, an air tractor AT-401, N91922, collided with trees and the ground then caught fire after a complete… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.