# NTSB CHI03LA261: Air Tractor AT-301, N4339S, Aplington, IA, August 14, 2003

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 14, 2003, 17:05 local (22:05 UTC)
- Place: Aplington, IA
- Coordinates: 42.586944, -92.875274
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5869&lon=-92.8753&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Des Moines, Iowa
- NTSB case key (mKey): 57707
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA261
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57707/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA261

## Probable cause

The pilot not maintaining proper altitude/clearance from the wire during the aerial application flight.  The factor to the accident was the power line.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application
  - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - low altitude flight/maneuver, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

The airplane impacted power lines and terrain during an aerial application flight.  The pilot reported that subsequent to impacting power lines the airplane lost pitch control.  The pilot stated the airplane "impacted the ground in a very nose-down attitude completely destroying the aircraft."

## Factual narrative

On August 14, 2003, about 1705 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N4339S, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it struck a powerline while maneuvering near Aplington, Iowa.  The airplane subsequently impacted the ground.  The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.  The pilot received serious injuries.  The flight departed Ackley Municipal Airport (4C7), Ackley, Iowa, at 1630.

According to the pilot's written statement, he departed 4C7 with fuel and 260 gallons of chemical mix.  The pilot reported that the airplane impacted power lines while maneuvering for a headland application pass, subsequent to completing a chemical application to a soybean field.  The pilot stated that the airplane's impact with the power lines resulted in a loss of pitch control.  The pilot reported the airplane "impacted the ground in a very nose-down attitude completely destroying the aircraft."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4339S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4339S-2004-02-21), registration cancelled 2004-02-21, S/N 301-0019, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor 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: 301-0019
- Airframe hours: 7500
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340-ANI 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Ronald L. Cook
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2002, 160 hours before
- Departed: 4C7, Ackley, IA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 10, 2002; seat: center; flight hours: 6,411 total, 2,163 in this make and model, 6,215 as pilot in command, 17 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observed at: ALO

## 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 20030814020789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030814020789A), Aug 14, 2003: Airtrc AT301, Aplington, IA, Destroyed. (-23) The aircraft was spraying a field near Aplington, Iowa, at approximately 1700 local time on August 14, 2003. As the aircraft approached the field from…

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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