# NTSB CEN25LA306: Air Tractor AT-301, N23069, Davenport, ND, August 7, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: August 6, 2025, 20:35 local (Aug 7, 2025, 01:35 UTC)
- Place: Davenport, ND
- Coordinates: 46.743222, -96.990194 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.7432&lon=-96.9902&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Fargo FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200731
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA306
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200731/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA306

## Preliminary report

On August 6, 2025, at 2035 central daylight time, an Air Tractor Inc AT-301 airplane, N23069, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Davenport, North Dakota. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. The pilot stated that the flight proceeded as expected, and he completed the aerial application successfully. During the return climb to approximately 500 ft above ground level, he noticed the left fuel tank was low and switched fuel gauge indications to the left fuel tank. Shortly afterwards, the low fuel light illuminated, and the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. He immediately actuated the wobble pump and attempted to restore fuel flow manually, but the engine did not respond. As the airplane began to lose altitude, he prepared for and performed a forced landing in a nearby cornfield. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the forced landing. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23069](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N23069), registered now, S/N 301-0350, built 1981 (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: 301-0350
- Year built: 1981
- Airframe hours: 8857.3
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Ag Spray Inc
- Registered owner: Ag Spray Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 30, 2025
- Departed: Moorehead, MN
- Destination: Moorehead, MN
- Equipment: Stall warning system

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 220° at 2 knots
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 76 °F, dew point 62 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: NDAWN-23, 11 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 20250806010719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250806010719A), Aug 6, 2025: Air Tractor Inc AT-301, Davenport, ND, Substantial damage. Pilot departed base of operations at 1940 CDT to conduct aerial application. The PIC completed the application work and noted the left fuel gauge indicated…

## Other investigations on N23069 (3)

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 DEN87LA084](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA084), Apr 5, 1987: Air Tractor AT-301 (N23069), Conrad, MT, substantial damage
- [NTSB DEN83LA136](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN83LA136), Jun 9, 1983: Air Tractor AT-301 (N23069), Conrad, MT, substantial damage
- [NTSB DEN82DTI09](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN82DTI09), Jan 3, 1982: Air Tractor AT-301 (N23069), Greenough, MT, substantial damage

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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