# NTSB ATL97LA087: Air Tractor AT-301A, N23728, Labelle, FL, June 20, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 20, 1997, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Labelle, FL
- Location: 26.7209° N, 81.4525° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of LaBelle, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.7209&lon=-81.4525&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3861
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL97LA087
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3861/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL97LA087

## Probable cause

failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed during a turn-around maneuver, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/mush and collision with the terrain.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - maneuver - initiated, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application

## Analysis

After reloading to apply fertilizer to a sugar cane field, the pilot took off and made a swath run. During a turn-around maneuver for the second swath, at about 200 yards away from the field and 50 feet above the ground, the airplane began sinking rapidly. The pilot added full power, and the airplane mushed into the ground. The airplane hit a levee, nosed over, and came to rest about 100 feet into the sugar cane field.

## Factual narrative

On June 20, 1997, at 1530 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301A, N23728, collided with the ground while maneuvering, at Labelle, Florida. The airplane was operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137 and visual flight rules. The prevailing weather was visual meteorological conditions. There was no flight plan filed for this aerial application flight. The commercial pilot was not injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated about 1525 from a farm road near Labelle.

According to the pilot's report of the accident, he had just completed the first swath turn around and was lining up for the second spray swath of a sugar cane field with dry fertilizer. About 200 yards from the field, at 50 feet above ground level, the airplane "began to sink rapidly". The pilot added full power, however, the airplane continued to mush into the ground. Subsequently, the airplane struck a levee, crossed a canal, and nosed over incurring substantial damage. The airplane came to rest about 100 feet into the sugar cane field.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23728](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23728-2005-03-02), registration cancelled 2005-03-02, S/N 301-0424, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-301A
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (registry code 0390103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 301-0424
- Airframe hours: 4684
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Lyles Story
- Registered owner: Story Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, May 31, 1997, 80 hours before
- Departed: NONE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 13,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 13,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 45° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RSW, 20 nm away

## 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 19970620015289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970620015289A), Jun 20, 1997: Airtrc AT301, La Belle, FL, Substantial damage. (.4)After reloading to apply fertilizer to a sugar cane field, the pilot took off and made a swath run. During a turn-around maneuver for the second swath, at…

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.

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