# NTSB CHI95LA247: Air Tractor AT-301, N3655Q, Poplar Bluff, MO, July 26, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 26, 1995, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Poplar Bluff, MO - Coordinates: 36.759582, -90.400901 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7596&lon=-90.4009&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 21, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9966 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9966/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA247 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight/planning preparation. Factors in the accident were: the loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, the wet runway, and the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - wet (contributing factor) - aborted takeoff - performed, pilot in command - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis THE PILOT STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL ON THE GRASS RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE PARTIALLY LOST ENGINE POWER. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, AND THE AIRPLANE SLID OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A DITCH. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IT HAD JUST STOPPED RAINING PRIOR TO HIS TAKEOFF, AND THE RUNWAY WAS WET. HE STATED THAT HE HAD NOT PERFORMED A CARBURETOR HEAT CHECK NOR A MAGNETO CHECK PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FOUND NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. THE REPORTED SURFACE TEMPERATURE IN THE AREA WAS 80 DEGREES, AND THE DEW POINT WAS 76 DEGREES. THESE TEMPERATURES FALL WITHIN THE SEVERE ICING RANGE ON A CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART. ## Factual narrative On July 26, 1995, at 1300 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N3655Q, operated by Mark Hall Aviation of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, collided with an irrigation ditch after aborting takeoff due to a loss of engine power. The airplane was taking off from a private sod airstrip in Poplar Bluff, Missouri, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot was not injured. The local 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight operated without a flight plan in visual meteorological conditions. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he had loaded the airplane with chemicals in preparation to spray a local field. He then taxied the airplane to the end of runway 9 (2600' x 100') and prepared for takeoff. The pilot stated that approximately three quarters of the way down the runway during the takeoff roll, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to abort the takeoff. The airplane slide off the end of the runway and slide into a ditch. The pilot stated to an FAA Inspector that it had just stopped raining prior to his takeoff attempt and the condition of the grass runway was wet. The pilot also stated that he had not performed a carburetor heat check nor a magneto check prior to the starting the takeoff roll. Postaccident examination of the engine found no mechanical anomalies. The reported surface temperature in the area at the time of the accident was 80 degrees and the dew point was 76 degrees. The attached Carburetor Icing Probability Chart places this temperature and dewpoint combination in the severe icing category. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3655Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3655Q-2005-03-23), registration cancelled 2005-03-23, S/N 301-0297, built 1980 (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: 301-0297 - Airframe hours: 5000 - Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Mark Hall Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 14, 1995 - Departed: NONE - Airport: NONE, Private Field, runway 9, 2,600 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F ## 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 19950726048669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950726048669A), Jul 26, 1995: Airtrc AT301, Harviell, MO, Substantial damage. (-16) Engine lost power on takeoff with 1800 lbs. Of fertilizer on board. Grass runway was wet preventing the aircraft from stopping before coming to rest in… 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.