# NTSB DFW06CA149: Air Tractor AT-401, N7318C, Garden City, TX, June 1, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 1, 2006, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Garden City, TX - Coordinates: 31.8666666666667, -101.483333333333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.8667&lon=-101.4833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Lubbock, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 63813 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63813/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA149 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper in-flight planning resulting in the loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The non-instrument rated commercial pilot departed on a maintenance test flight in a single-engine agricultural airplane. During the test flight the airplane's radial engine lost power and the pilot elected to execute a forced landing to a cotton field. The airplane sustained structural damage during the forced landing. There was no fire and the pilot was able to egress the airplane unassisted. The winds at the time of the accident were reported from 040 degrees at 11knots, gusting to 18 knots. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who traveled to the accident site, confirmed the airplane sustained structural damage during the forced landing. Additionally, the inspector reported that the aircraft ran out of fuel. Despite repeated attempts by the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC), the pilot failed to return a completed Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form (NTSB Form 6120.1). ## Factual narrative The non-instrument rated commercial pilot departed on a maintenance test flight in a single-engine agricultural airplane. During the test flight the airplane's radial engine lost power and the pilot elected to execute a forced landing in a cotton field. The airplane sustained structural damage during the forced landing. There was no fire and the pilot was able to egress the airplane unassisted. The winds at the time of the accident were reported from 040 degrees at 11knots, gusting to 18 knots. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who traveled to the accident site, confirmed the airplane sustained structural damage during the forced landing. Additionally, the inspector reported that the aircraft ran out of fuel. Despite repeated attempts by the Investigator-In-Charge (IIC), the pilot failed to return a completed Pilot Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form (NTSB Form 6120.1). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7318C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7318C-2009-06-10), registration cancelled 2009-06-10, S/N 401-0680 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-401 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-401](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (registry code 0390204) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 401-0680 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1820 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Roger Quinn, doing business as Summers Spraying Service, Inc. - Registered owner: Summers Spraying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Garden City, TX - Destination: Garden City, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; flight hours: 1,500 total, 50 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 11 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: BPG, 25 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 20060601008109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060601008109A), Jun 1, 2006: Airtrc AT401, Garden City, TX, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 1, 2006, N7318C, an air tractor model AT-401 aircraft, ran out of fuel during a flight test and subsequently made a forced landing on a cotton… ## Other investigations on N7318C (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 FTW90DPG12](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW90DPG12), Aug 27, 1990: Air Tractor AT-401 (N7318C), Jacksonville, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNKNOWN CAUSES. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. 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.