- Date
- August 25, 2000, 20:00 local (Aug 26, 2000, 01:00 UTC)
- Place
- Superior, NE
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N91842Air Tractor AT-401
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Status
- Completed · report April 25, 2001
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20000825006779A
- Case key
- 50108
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the cracked number 7 cylinder exhaust valve. A factor relating to this accident was the tree.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot said he was spraying a milo field, 3 miles southeast of Superior, Nebraska. While in a turn to south, 'the engine started to sputter and miss. Smoke started coming out of the left hand side of the engine ... a substantial power loss followed.' The pilot turned the airplane to the north and attempted to put down in an alfalfa field. During the landing attempt, the airplane struck some hay bales and a tree. An examination of the airplane's engine revealed a cracked exhaust valve on the number 7 cylinder. No other anomalies were found.
Factual narrative
On August 25, 2000, at 2000 central daylight time (cdt), an Air Tractor AT-401, N91842, operated by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it struck a tree and the terrain, during an attempted forced landing on an alfalfa field. Prior to the forced landing, the airplane's engine lost power, while the airplane was maneuvering. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 137. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot sustained no injuries. The local flight originated at Superior, Nebraska, at 1930 cdt.
In his written statement, the pilot said he was spraying a milo field, 3 miles southeast of Superior, Nebraska. While in a turn to south, "the engine started to sputter and miss. Smoke started coming out of the left hand side of the engine ... a substantial power loss followed." The pilot turned the airplane to the north and attempted to put down in an alfalfa field. During the landing attempt, the airplane struck some hay bales and a tree.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector, examined the airplane at the accident site. The airplane's wings were broken aft from the fuselage. The engine and hopper were broken off the front of the airplane. The main landing gear were broken aft. The fuselage was twisted and buckled. The empennage was intact. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine revealed a cracked exhaust valve on the number 7 cylinder. No other anomalies were found.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N91842
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 907
- Airframe hours
- 2,500
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Barry Blackstone
- Registered owner
- Butler Air Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · January 31, 2000 · 300 hours before
- Departed
- 12K
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 33
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 3,848 total · 3,436 in this make and model · 3,799 as pilot in command · 120 in the last 90 days · 25 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dusk
- Wind
- 100° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 82 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Observed at
- HSI, 37 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.