# NTSB FTW04LA179: Air Tractor AT-401, N10061, Winnsboro, LA, July 10, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 2004, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Winnsboro, LA - Coordinates: 32.152778, -91.698333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1528&lon=-91.6983&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: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 59605 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59605/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA179 ## Probable cause The pilot's mismanagement of fuel resulting in fuel starvation. A contributing factor was the ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, maneuvering - aerial application - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The 9,155-hour pilot stated that after he had finished an aerial application of insecticide in a field approximately 5 miles away from the airport, he pulled up and out and turned 180 degrees to the right to return to the airport. At an altitude of approximately 100 to 200 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot further stated that, due to the low altitude, he could not turn much in either direction. Subsequently, the pilot initiated a forced landing into a bean field, and struck a drainage canal. Examination of the fuel system revealed no fuel in the right wing tank. The pilot reported that he had been making all of his turns to the left, and that the fuel had transferred from the right fuel cell into the left fuel cell. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 2004, approximately 1300 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401 single-engine agricultural airplane, N10061, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Winnsboro, Louisiana. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. The airplane was registered and operated by Midway Farms, Inc., of Winnsboro, Louisiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from the Winnsboro Municipal Airport (F89), near Winnsboro, Louisiana, approximately 1230. The 9,155-hour pilot, in a written statement in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), stated that after he had finished an aerial application of insecticide in a field approximately 5 miles away from the airport, he pulled up and out and turned 180 degrees to the right to return to the airport. At an altitude of approximately 100 to 200 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot further stated that, due to the low altitude, he could not turn much in either direction. Subsequently, the pilot initiated a forced landing into a bean field, and struck a drainage canal. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, stated that the pilot took off with approximately one-quarter of a tank of fuel in the left wing and approximately one-half of a tank of fuel in the right wing, and "ran it dry." Examination revealed that there was no fuel in the right wing tank. The pilot reported to the inspector that he had been making all his turns to the left, and that the fuel drained from the right fuel tank to the left fuel tank. Further examination revealed structural damage to the fuselage, and the right landing gear had collapsed. According to the airplane owner's manual, "the fuel valve handle is located within easy reach of the pilot and is marked 'Main' and 'Off.' There can be no tank selection since both tanks are interconnected." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10061](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N10061-2007-09-10), registration cancelled 2007-09-10, S/N 401-0696, built 1988 (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: 401-0696 - Airframe hours: 6080 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Charles Paris, doing business as Midway Farms Inc. - Registered owner: Midway Farms, INC. DBA - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 10, 2004, 100 hours before - Departed: F89, Winnsboro, LA - Destination: F89, Winnsboro, LA - Airport: F89, Winnsboro Municipal Airport, runway 36, 3,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 16, 2004; seat: center; flight hours: 9,155 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 8,960 as pilot in command, 200 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: MLU, 28 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 20040710013979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040710013979A), Jul 10, 2004: Airtrc AT401, Winnsboro, LA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was spraying a field near Winnsboro, Louisiana when his engine quit. Pilot explained that he was race tracking I.e. (making constant left hand… 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.