# NTSB CHI07LA208: Air Tractor AT-301, N3158W, Osceola, IN, July 15, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2007, 16:03 local (20:03 UTC) - Place: Osceola, IN - Coordinates: 41.5558333333333, -86.0519444444444 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5558&lon=-86.0519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Air Tractor, FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 66224 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07LA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66224/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07LA208 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the trees during the aerial application flight. Factors associated with the accident were the trees and the pilot's lack of experience in flying aerial application flights. ## 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 - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis "THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED SEPTEMBER 19, 2008." The pilot was spraying a short field that had wooded areas on both the north and south ends of the field when the accident occurred. Data from the global positioning system (GPS) that was onboard the airplane indicated the airplane was heading north prior to entering a right turn to the south just prior to impacting the trees. The initial tree impact was at the edge of a heavily wooded area, adjacent to the field that was being sprayed. The airplane continued into the wooded area contacting trees up to 12 inches in diameter, prior to coming to rest inverted. Clean, freshly cut branches were located along the impact trail. The pilot began flying aerial application flights a couple a weeks prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative "THIS CASE WAS MODIFIED SEPTEMBER 19, 2008." On July 15, 2007, at about 1603 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N3158W, operated by Agriflite, collided with trees at the end of a swath run during an aerial application flight in Osceola, Indiana. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Eby Field Airport (II74), Wakarusa, Indiana. The pilot was spraying a short field that had wooded areas on both the north and south ends of the field when the accident occurred. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot, age 25, held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land and instrument airplane ratings. The pilot held a second-class medical certificate that was issued on February 28, 2007. There were no limitations associated with this certificate. At the time of application for the medical certificate, the pilot reported having 373 hours of total flight time, 10 hours of which were flown in the previous 6 months. The pilot began flying aerial application flights a couple a weeks prior to the accident. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane, an Air Tractor AT-310, serial number 301-0455, was equipped with a 600 horsepower Pratt and Whitney R-1340 engine, serial number CAC 2656. The engine was overhauled approximately 25 hours prior to the accident. METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS Weather conditions recorded at the Elkhart Municipal Airport (ELK), located approximately 6 miles north-northeast of the accident site, at 1555 were: Wind from 310 degrees at 5 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 28 degrees Celsius; dew point 10 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.92 inches of mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The global positioning system (GPS) that was onboard was downloaded. The data indicated the airplane was heading north prior to entering a right turn to the south. The track ends as the airplane was completing the turn to the south. The point where the track ends correlates with the wooded area where the accident occurred. The initial tree impact was at the edge of a heavily wooded area, which was adjacent to the field that was being sprayed. The airplane continued into the wooded area contacting trees up to 12 inches in diameter, prior to coming to rest inverted. Clean, freshly cut branches were located along the impact trail. The propeller blade that was buried in the ground was relatively straight. The two remaining blades were bent rearward and slightly curled. Both the left and right outer wing panels were separated from the airplane and were located in the wooded area. The tail of the airplane was separated from the rear fuselage and was located near the main wreckage. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy of the pilot was performed on July 16, 2007, at the South Bend Medical Foundation, South Bend, Indiana. The final autopsy report listed the cause of death as "Multiple blunt force injuries." Toxicological samples were tested by the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute. All tests results were negative. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3158W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3158W-2010-07-30), registration cancelled 2010-07-30, S/N 301-0455 (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) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 301-0455 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Agriflite Services, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: II74, Wakarusa, IN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 373 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: EKM, 6 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 20070715020019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070715020019A), Jul 15, 2007: Airtrc AT301, Osceola, ID, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) Pilot started his duty day at 0800 and had been flying all day spraying fields. At approximately 1530 he started flying a path going south into a corn… 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.