# NTSB CEN13LA472: Air Tractor AT-301, N3655G, Simmesport, LA, August 4, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 4, 2013, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Simmesport, LA - Coordinates: 30.980937, -91.810523 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.9809&lon=-91.8105&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 87710 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA472 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87710/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87710 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA472 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain proper airplane pitch control while maneuvering at an altitude that was too low for recovery. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: 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) ## Analysis The pilot was performing aerial application of chemicals to a field when the airplane began to settle during a low-altitude turn. The settling was consistent with flight at a high angle-of-attack or high drag condition, and the airplane may have been near or at its stall speed. The pilot was unable to recover from the descent so he made an emergency landing during which the airplane impacted an embankment. ## Factual narrative On August 4, 2013, about 0920 central daylight time, an Air Tractor Inc AT-301, N3655G, impacted terrain during an aerial application of a field near Simmesport, Louisiana. The airplane received substantial damage to a wing. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Pro-Air LLC under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight that was not operating on a flight plan. The local flight originated from a private airstrip (5LA1) near Hamburg, Louisiana about 0855. The pilot stated that the airplane settled while turning over a field that was being sprayed. He could not recover from the descent so he landed the airplane straight ahead of the flight path and the airplane impacted a railroad embankment. The pilot's recommendation of how this accident could have been prevented was: "I could of made a wider turn," and "I could of put flaps in when airplane began to settle." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3655G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3655G-2018-06-26), registration cancelled 2018-06-26, S/N 301-0292 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 301-0292 - Airframe hours: 6981 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Pro-Air LLC - Registered owner: Pro-Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2012 - Departed: 5LA1, Hamburg, LA - Destination: Simmesport, LA - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; seat: single; flight hours: 589 total, 349 in this make and model, 537 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: AEX, 50 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 20130804015659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130804015659A), Aug 4, 2013: Air Tractor Inc AT-301, Simmesport, LA, Destroyed. Aircraft was in a turn and stalled. Tried to recover and made an emergency landing straight ahead. Aircraft hit railroad embankment and was destroyed. ## Other investigations on N3655G (2) 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 MIA93LA179](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA93LA179), Aug 20, 1993: Air Tractor AT-301 (N3655G), Rome, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON. A FACTOR RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WAS: FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO USE ALL AVAILABLE RUNWAY FOR TAKEOFF. - [NTSB FTW87DPJ06](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW87DPJ06), Mar 22, 1987: Air Tractor AT301 (N3655G), El Dorado, OK, substantial damage ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87710. 3.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40402534&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.