# NTSB FTW04LA150: Air Tractor AT-301, N3166U, Cotton Plant, AR, June 4, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 2004, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Cotton Plant, AR - Coordinates: 34.880001, -91.176391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8800&lon=-91.1764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59384 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59384/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA150 ## Probable cause 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, maneuvering - aerial application - in-flight planning/decision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The 300-hour pilot reported that after performing an aerial application of fertilizer on a field for about 4 hours, the "engine started to sputter." The pilot initiated a forced landing to an adjacent field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed both fuel tanks remained intact and contained less then one gallon of fuel. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 2004, approximately 1800 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301 single-engine agricultural airplane, N3166U, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while maneuvering near Cotton Plant, Arkansas. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to Neal Aircraft Inc., of Slaton, Texas, and operated by Southern Air, Inc., of Cotton Plant, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from a private airstrip near Cotton Plant, Arkansas, at an unknown time. The 300-hour pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he was performing an aerial application of fertilizer on a field for about 4 hours. On the second to last pass, the "engine started to sputter" and he initiated a forced landing to an adjacent field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the vertical stabilizer, rudder and elevators were structurally damaged. The engine mounts were also damaged. Both fuel tanks remained intact. No fuel residue was observed on the soft ground. The inspector added that about a cup of fuel was found in each of the fuel cells. Recovery personnel were asked to evaluate any remaining fuel after the aircraft was up-right, and all estimates were that there was less than one gallon of fuel remaining in the aircraft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3166U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3166U-2006-04-06), registration cancelled 2006-04-06, S/N 301-0551, built 1984 (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: 301-0551 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada R1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Robert Ferguson, doing business as Southern Air Inc. - Registered owner: Neal Aircraft Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Cotton Plant, AR - Destination: Cotton Plant, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 21; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review May 13, 2003; seat: center; flight hours: 300 total, 50 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 230° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20040604013249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040604013249A), Jun 4, 2004: Airtrc AT301, Cotton Plante, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) June 04, 2004 at approx. 18:30 CT N3166U, an AT-301-301 air tractor operated by southern aire of Cotton plant, Arkansas was substantially damaged when… 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.