- Date
- October 13, 2004, 16:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place
- Coahoma, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N8886SAir Tractor AT-301
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 24, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20041013024289A
- Case key
- 60325
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for landing.
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
While spraying cotton for boll weevil eradication, the airplane developed a vibration. Thinking that the spray pump was about to sling a blade, the 3,600-hour commercial pilot elected to make a precautionary landing on a gravel road. After touch down the pilot was unable to maintain directional control and departed the right side of the road. The right wheel then contacted a dirt embankment and the airplane turned sharply to the right, resulting in the collapse of the left main landing gear. The airplane came to rest, upright, in a ditch. The winds were reported from 140 degrees at 6 knots.
Factual narrative
On October 13, 2004, approximately 1650 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301 single engine, tailwheel-equipped, agricultural airplane, N8886S, was substantially damaged following a loss of control during landing near Coahoma, Texas. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by ANF Air Service Incorporated of Garwood, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a company flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. The local flight originated from Big Spring Airport (BPG) near Big Spring, Texas, approximately one hour earlier.
According to the 3,600-hour pilot, while spraying cotton for boll weevil eradication, the airplane developed a vibration. Thinking that the spray pump was about to sling a blade, the pilot elected to make a precautionary landing on a gravel road. The pilot reported that after touch down, he was unable to maintain directional control and departed the right side of the road. The right wheel then contacted a dirt embankment and the airplane turned sharply to the right, resulting in the collapse of the left main landing gear. The airplane came to rest, upright, in a ditch.
An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) evaluated the damage to the airplane. He reported that the fuselage was buckled and that both wings were twisted.
At 1653 central daylight time, the weather observation facility at Midland International Airport (MAF) near Midland, Texas, which is located approximately 50 miles west of the accident site, reported the wind from 140 degrees at 6 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear of clouds, temperature 72 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 53 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.92 inches of Mercury.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8886S
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0227
- Engine
- Pratt & Whitney R-1340, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- ANF Air Service Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed
- 21XS · Big Spring, TX
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
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
- 52
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2
- Flight hours
- 3,600 total · 1,630 in this make and model · 100 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- MAF
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8886S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.