# NTSB CHI99LA193: Air Tractor AT-301, N3159M, Veblen, SD, June 24, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 24, 1999, 07:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Veblen, SD - Coordinates: 45.85921, -97.27919 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8592&lon=-97.2792&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46623 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA193 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46623/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA193 ## Probable cause was the pilot not maintaining clearance from terrain. A factor was the pilot not performing a load jettison. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - load jettison - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot said on his fourth spray pass, he encountered air that did not seem '...to have much lift to it' and he was adding power to climb the accident airplane above trees. He said he had applied full power as he got closer to the trees and the airplane started settling downward once over the tree line. He stated the airplane settled and contacted the ground. The engine was torn off the fuselage, along with the landing gear and tail wheel. The pilot stated the fuselage came to rest on a southeasterly direction. The pilot stated 'dumping the load' was his recommendation on how this accident could have been prevented. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 1999, at 0730 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N3159M, piloted by a commercial pilot, received substantial damage on impact with terrain near Veblen, South Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not on a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The local flight originated from Britton Municipal Airport, Britton, South Dakota at approximately 0700. The pilot stated that he loaded the Air Tractor with 240-gallons of water and chemicals and that the fuel tanks had 70 to 80 gallons of fuel. He stated that winds were out of the southwest at 6 to 10 mph. He said he was spraying in some local hills. On his fourth pass, he said that he encountered air that did not seem "...to have much lift to it". He said that he started adding power to climb the airplane above trees. He said that he had applied full power as he got closer to the trees and the airplane started settling downward once over the tree line. He stated that the airplane settled and contacted the ground. The engine was torn off the fuselage, along with the landing gear and tail wheel. The pilot stated that the fuselage came to rest on a southeasterly direction. The pilot stated that "dumping the load" was his recommendation on how this accident could have been prevented. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3159M](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3159M), registered now, S/N 301-0468, built 1982 (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: [Raikhlin RED A03 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/raikhlin-red-a03-series) (registry code 52560, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 301-0468 - Airframe hours: 3187 - Engines: P&W R-1340 AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Dakota Ag Service Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 1999, 106 hours before - Departed: BTN, BRITTON, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 7,345 total, 2,450 in this make and model, 7,021 as pilot in command, 106 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ABR, 106 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 19990624007539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990624007539A), Jun 24, 1999: Airtrc AT301, Veblin, SD, Substantial damage. Acft crashed into a field during aerial application, other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on June 24, 1999, at 0730 central daylight time, an air tractor… 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.