# NTSB CEN10CA412: Air Tractor AT-301, N8774S, Edmore, ND, July 17, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 16, 2010, 21:00 local (Jul 17, 2010, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Edmore, ND - Coordinates: 48.413055, -98.45417 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4131&lon=-98.4542&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-FAR-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76689 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10CA412 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76689/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76689 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA412 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was landing on a private grass strip that had not been used for several weeks during which time the grass had grown "considerably". Upon landing, the tall grass caught the left spray boom which resulted in the airplane traveling off the side of the runway into a wheat field. The pilot reported the airplane traveled 25 to 30 feet after contacting the tall grass, and it came to rest 90 degrees from the touchdown heading. The right wing and empennage were substantially damaged during the event. ## Factual narrative The pilot was landing on a private grass strip that had not been used for several weeks during which time the grass had grown "considerably". Upon landing, the tall grass caught the left spray boom which resulted in the airplane traveling off the side of the runway into a wheat field. The pilot reported the airplane traveled 25 to 30 feet after contacting the tall grass, and it came to rest 90 degrees from the touchdown heading. The right wing and empennage were substantially damaged during the event. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8774S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8774S-2023-04-01), registration cancelled 2023-04-01, S/N 301-0190, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-301 - 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: 301-0190 - Airframe hours: 6869 - Engines: P&W R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Brekke Aerial Service Inc - Registered owner: Brekke Aerial Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, May 1, 2010, 5 hours before - Departed: Edmore, ND - Destination: Edmore, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 5, 2010; seat: center; flight hours: 7,600 total, 5,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: DVL, 27 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 20100716038809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100716038809A), Jul 16, 2010: Air Tractor AT-301, Edmore, ND, Substantial damage. During landing operator landed on cross runway on his farm strip which had not been mowed. Long grass factor in ground loop of aircraft damaging right/rear… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76689. 772 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 772 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334906&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.