# NTSB FTW03LA084: Air Tractor AT-401, N1537R, Alamo, TX, January 14, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 14, 2003, 14:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Alamo, TX - Coordinates: 26.153055, -98.136108 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1531&lon=-98.1361&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56337 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56337/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA084 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in a stall. Low altitude flight is a contributing factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - low altitude flight/maneuver, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis During an aerial application flight, while the aircraft was in the process of executing a turn to reverse direction, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground in a nose low attitude. The evidence found at the accident site where consistent with an airplane impacting the ground in a nose low attitude, at a relatively slow airspeed. The main wreckage came to rest in an open field in an upright position, approximately 75-feet from the initial point of impact. The radial engine was found separated from the airframe. The two-bladed propeller assembly remained attached to the engine crankshaft. Both fuel cells were compromised during the accident sequence. An FAA inspector arrived at the accident site within an hour after the mishap and reported no evidence of fuel or fuel smell at the accident site. The memory card from the SATLOC system installed in the aircraft was recovered by the FAA inspector for further evaluation. The memory card was analyzed and found not to have any information pertaining to the accident flight. Several attempts were made by the FAA inspector, as well as the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge to interview the 16,600-hour pilot after his release from the hospital after the accident. The pilot reported that he did not have any recollection of the accident or the circumstances prior to the mishap. ## Factual narrative On January 14, 2003, at 1445 central standard time, an Air Tractor AT-401 agricultural airplane, N1537R, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while maneuvering near Alamo, Texas. The non-instrument rated commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. The airplane was owned and operated by Moad Aviation, Inc., of Weslaco, Texas, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the aerial application flight for which no flight plan was filed. The local flight originated (approximately 1400) from the Mid Valley Dusters Airport (43TX) near Alamo, Texas. The operator reported that the airplane had been flown on a local aerial application flight during the morning hours and was hangared after completion of the flight. He added that their normal procedures is to top-off the left wing prior to hangaring the airplane. The operator's standard fuel load for local flights was 63 gallons, which normally provides for a 2-hour range. The operator reported to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, that the airplane was in the process of executing a turn to reverse direction, when the airplane stalled and impacted the ground in a nose low attitude. The inspector added that the evidence found at the accident site where consistent with an airplane impacting the ground in a nose low attitude, at a relatively slow airspeed. Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector and the operator, revealed that the main wreckage came to rest in an open field in an upright position approximately 75-feet from the initial point of impact. The Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine was found separated from the airframe. The two-blade propeller assembly remained attached to the engine crankshaft. One propeller blade was found bent aft around the engine at about the midspan, while the other blade was slightly bent aft. Both wings sustained structural damage and both fuel cells were compromised during the accident sequence. The inspector added that he arrived at the accident site within an hour after the mishap and there was no evidence of fuel or fuel odors at the accident site. There was no fire. The memory card from the SATLOC system installed in the aircraft was recovered by the FAA inspector for further evaluation. The memory card was analyzed and found not to have any information pertaining to the accident flight. The card was returned to the operator upon completion of the investigation. Several attempts were made by the FAA inspector, as well as the NTSB Investigator-in-Charge to interview the 16,600-hour pilot after his release from the hospital following the accident. The pilot did not have any recollection of the accident or the circumstances prior to the mishap. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1537R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1537R-2003-10-01), registration cancelled 2003-10-01, S/N 401-0858, built 1992 (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) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 401-0858 - Airframe hours: 5118 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Moad Aviation, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, April 30, 2002, 224 hours before - Departed: T65, Weslaco, TX - Airport: 43TX, Mid Valley Dusters, runway 120, 1,925 × 90 ft ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 30, 2001; seat: center; flight hours: 16,600 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 16,600 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,900 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: MFE, 6 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 20030114002309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030114002309A), Jan 14, 2003: Airtrc AT401, Alamo, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On January 14, 2003, agricultural aircraft N1537R, an airtractor, model AT-401, was substantially damaged following a loss of control while maneuvering… 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.