# NTSB CHI98LA236: Air Tractor AT301, N7301Y, Langdon, ND, July 3, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 1998, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Langdon, ND - Coordinates: 48.760581, -98.36975 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7606&lon=-98.3697&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 19, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43079 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43079/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA236 ## Probable cause the total loss of engine power for reasons undetermined. A factor was rough and uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis The pilot stated that en route to dispense chemicals, the engine suffered a total loss of power. A forced landing was made to a rough field, where the airplane nosed over. An examination of the airplane and engine subsequent to the accident did not reveal any mechanical anomalies with the engine. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 1998, at 0900 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT301, N7301Y, impacted the terrain near Langdon Airport, Langdon, North Dakota. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that the engine lost power one mile out while on approach to the crop field to be sprayed. He said that the forced landing was made in a rough field where the airplane nosed over. The airplane was being operated as an aerial applications flight under 14 CFR Part 137 when the accident occurred. The flight originated in Langdon , North Dakota, at 0850. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was on file. Subsequent to the accident an examination was conducted on the engine. No mechanical anomalies were found. There was compression on all cylinders, the spark plugs had combustion deposits, the magneto sparked, and there was continuity throughout the engine. There was fuel still in the fuel tanks and no contamination was found in the fuel. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7301Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7301Y-1999-03-29), registration cancelled 1999-03-29, S/N 301-0590 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT301 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (registry code 0390103) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 301-0590 - Engines: P&W R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Dixon S. Hitch - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: D55, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 4,800 total, 800 in this make and model, 4,200 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 8 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 61 °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 19980703015869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980703015869A), Jul 3, 1998: Airtrc AT301, Langdon, ND, Substantial damage. Acft was involved in a aerial application when the engine quit, landed hard, nosed over, came to rest inverted. (-23) operator departed Langdon airport to… ## Other investigations on N7301Y (1) 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 CHI94LA241](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94LA241), Jul 23, 1994: Air Tractor AT-301 (N7301Y), Eckelson, ND, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a transmission wire. A factor associated with the accident is the transmission wire. 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.