# NTSB CEN25LA303: Air Tractor AT-400A, N3157B, Lamoni, IA, August 3, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 3, 2025, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Lamoni, IA - Coordinates: 40.632392, -93.902226 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6324&lon=-93.9022&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 23, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 200696 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA303 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200696/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200696 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA303 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during an aborted takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-400A, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0390203), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-400A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=0390203), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-400A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390203), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-400A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0390203), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-400A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390203), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after loading the airplane with fuel and product, he taxied the full length of the runway and began the takeoff roll. After takeoff, he flew the airplane above the runway in ground effect; however, the airplane settled back to the runway. The pilot stated that he was uncomfortable continuing the takeoff, so he aborted the takeoff by applying brakes and reducing engine power. To avoid nosing the airplane over and locking the tailwheel, he abruptly pulled back on the control stick. The airplane ballooned and came back down hard on the runway. The pilot did not want to impact houses and buildings on the side of the runway, so he kept the airplane aligned with the remaining runway. The airplane impacted shrubs and trees and came to rest in a ditch at the end of the runway. The wings and fuselage sustained substantial damaged. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3157B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3157B), registered now, S/N 400A-0449 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-400A (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-400A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400a) (registry code 0390203) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 400A-0449 - Year built: 1982 - Airframe hours: 11787 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney PT6A-34 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 91 - Operator: Black Dog Aviation, doing business as Stardust Ag Aviation - Registered owner: Marlow Aviation LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 11, 2025 - Airport: LWD, Lamoni Municipal, runway 36, 3,400 × 60 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 12, 2024; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,949 total, 52 in this make and model, 6,421 as pilot in command, 74 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: KLWD - METAR: KLWD 031553Z AUTO VRB05KT 10SM FEW036 21/13 A3019 ## 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 20250803011269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250803011269A), Aug 3, 2025: Air Tractor Inc AT-400A, Lamoni, IA, Substantial damage. The pilot failed to maintain control of the aircraft during an aborted takeoff resulting in the aircraft entering a ditch beyond the end of the runway. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200696. 3.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19321684&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19322920&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photos-Rel.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.