- Date
- June 2, 1982, 06:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Ruyard, MT
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4403SAir Tractor AT-301
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 2, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820602020299A
- Case key
- 72439
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The aircraft was refueled prior to takeoff. The pilot reported that the takeoff was normal until about 75 ft off the runway when the engine quit. During a forced landing, the plane touched down in a 3-point attitude, bounced, and then hit the ground in a nose down attitude and went over on its back. The pilot attributed the engine stoppage to water in the fuel supply. He stated that he had been experiencing problems with water in his fuel storage facility due to heavy rains.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4403S
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0063
- Airframe hours
- 1,103
- Engine
- P & W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Ag Air, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Ag Air, Inc.
- Departed
- Ruyard, MT
- Destination
- Ruyard, MT
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 53
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Flight hours
- 7,000 total · 1,100 in this make and model · 7,000 as pilot in command
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Temperature
- 122 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.