# NTSB ERA13CA163: Air Tractor AT-301, N7310N, Greenbrier, AL, February 24, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: February 24, 2013, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Greenbrier, AL
- Coordinates: 34.670833, -86.843055 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6708&lon=-86.8431&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 18, 2013
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 86403
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA163
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86403/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86403
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA163

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

Near the conclusion of the aerial application flight, the pilot was climbing the airplane away from the field when the right wing struck a tree, resulting in substantial damage. He subsequently returned to the private strip where the airplane was based and landed uneventfully. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

Near the conclusion of the aerial application flight, the pilot was climbing the airplane away from the field when the right wing struck a tree, resulting in substantial damage. He subsequently returned to the private strip where the airplane was based and landed uneventfully. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7310N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7310N-2022-05-03), registration cancelled 2022-05-03, S/N 301-0649 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-301
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (registry code 0390103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 301-0649
- Airframe hours: 6351
- Engines: Pratt and Whitney R-1340 AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Lannie Towe, doing business as Towe Boy's Agri Service
- Registered owner: Lanier Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 20, 2012
- Departed: NONE, Greenbrier, AL
- Destination: NONE, Greenbrier, AL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 3, 2012; seat: single; flight hours: 7,042 total, 320 in this make and model, 6,809 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: HSV, 3 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 20130224003309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130224003309A), Feb 24, 2013: Air Tractor Inc AT-301, Huntsville, AL, Substantial damage. On February 24, 2013, about 1445 central daylight time, pilot, [privacy data omitted] was operating an Air tractor, AT-301 airplane, N7310N, pilot stated that…

## Other investigations on N7310N (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 MIA87LA209](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA209), Jul 18, 1987: Air Tractor AT-301 (N7310N), Swiftown, MS, substantial damage

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86403. 747 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 516 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389688&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389972&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 1 - Accident Airplane From Right (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 71 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389690&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Accident%20Airplane%20From%20Right%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Damage to Right Wing Tip (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40389692&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Damage%20to%20Right%20Wing%20Tip%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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.

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