# NTSB FTW04LA021: Air Tractor AT-301, N1361E, San Angelo, TX, November 12, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 12, 2003, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: San Angelo, TX - Coordinates: 31.357778, -100.496391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3578&lon=-100.4964&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: San Angelo, Texas - NTSB case key (mKey): 58340 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58340/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA021 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper weather evaluation and the wrong runway selection. A contributing factor was the tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - fence - weather evaluation - improper, pilot in command (cause) - wrong runway - selected, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 7,169-hour pilot reported that while attempting a downwind takeoff from a 2,880 feet gravel airstrip, the airplane climbed to approximately 30 feet before settling back to the ground. The pilot dumped the liquid chemical load, but the left wing struck a fence before impacting the ground. The pilot stated that he had been taking off to the south all day, but "believes the wind shifted due to an approaching weather front." ## Factual narrative On November 12, 2003, approximately 1400 central standard time, an Air Tractor AT-301 single-engine tailwheel equipped airplane, N1361E, was substantially damaged when it struck a fence and impacted the ground during a forced landing after takeoff from an airstrip near San Angelo, Texas. The non-instrument rated commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. The local fight originated from the operator's private airstrip, approximately three minutes prior to the accident. The airstrip has a north-south runway, which is 2,880 feet long and 30 feet wide. The airplane departed to the south. The 7,169-hour pilot reported to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, that the airplane climbed to about 30 feet, cleared trees at the end of the runway, and then settled back toward the ground. The pilot dumped the liquid chemical load, but the left wing struck a fence before impacting the ground, which rotated the airplane 180 degrees. The pilot stated that he had been taking off to the south all day, but "believes the wind had shifted due to an approaching weather front." The airstrip does not have a wind vane. The FAA inspector reported that the empennage was folded, and the main landing gear was separated from the fuselage. At San Angelo Regional Airport (SJT), about 15 miles west of the accident site, the automated surface observing system reported winds as follows: at 1253, wind 270 degrees and 7 knots, at 1353, wind 350 degrees and 7 knots, and at 1453, wind 010 degrees and 7 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1361E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1361E-2005-11-23), registration cancelled 2005-11-23, S/N 301-0205, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor 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: 301-0205 - Airframe hours: 7314.1 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 5, 2003, 25.2 hours before - Departed: San Angelo, TX - Airport: Private airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review January 2, 2003; seat: front; flight hours: 7,169 total, 3,383 in this make and model, 7,169 as pilot in command, 120 in the last 90 days, 65 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: SJT, 15 nm away ## Other investigations on N1361E (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 FTW85LRA02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LRA02), May 17, 1985: Air Tractor AT301 (N1361E), Anahuac, TX, substantial damage 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.