# NTSB DEN03LA112: Air Tractor AT-301, N4406S, Glendo, WY, June 27, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 27, 2003, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Glendo, WY - Coordinates: 42.500278, -104.818054 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5003&lon=-104.8181&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57321 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN03LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57321/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN03LA112 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the trees. Factors contributing to the accident were the low altitude, the high density altitude, and the trees. ## 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 - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot said he was performing aerial application at low altitude. The pilot reported that the airplane failed to respond as expected during his pull-up and turn. The pilot said he chose to perform an emergency landing to avoid rising terrain. The airplane struck trees and the terrain causing substantial damage to the right wing, undercarriage, and fuselage. An examination of the airplane's systems revealed no anomalies. Approximately 200 gallons of chemical was recovered from the airplane's hopper. Density altitude at the time of the accident was 6,506 feet mean sea level. ## Factual narrative On June 27, 2003, approximately 1015 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N4406S, operated by Frontier Aviation Inc., was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain while conducting aerial application approximately 10 miles east of Glendo, Wyoming. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local agricultural flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 137. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated at 0930. In his written statement, the pilot said he was performing aerial application at low altitude. The pilot reported that the airplane failed to respond as expected during his pull-up and turn. The pilot said he chose to perform an emergency landing to avoid rising terrain. The airplane struck trees and the terrain. The landing gear failed and the airplane skidded sideways to a stop. An examination of the airplane showed substantial damage to the right wing, undercarriage, and fuselage. Flight control continuity was confirmed. An examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. Approximately 200 gallons of chemical was recovered from the airplane's hopper. Density altitude at the time of the accident was 6,506 feet mean sea level. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4406S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4406S-2018-01-19), registration cancelled 2018-01-19, S/N 301-0066 (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: AT3010066 - Airframe hours: 6042 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Frontier Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 9, 2002, 191 hours before - Departed: EAN, Wheatland, WY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 18, 2003; seat: center; flight hours: 2,880 total, 191 in this make and model, 2,880 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: DGW, 35 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 20030627012589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030627012589A), Jun 27, 2003: Airtrc AT301, Glendo, WY, Substantial damage. (-23) While spraying at high altitude on a warm day, the aircraft lost altitude, hit a tree and impacted the ground. The pilot stated that during the first… 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.