# NTSB FTW78DRG62: Air Tractor 301, N4397S, Rio Hondo, TX, August 1, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: August 1, 1978
- Place: Rio Hondo, TX · RIO HONDO, TX
- Location: 26.2346° N, 97.5815° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Rio Hondo, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2346&lon=-97.5815&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 8, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 139897
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW78DRG62
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW78DRG62

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2112   78/8/1    RIO HONDO,TX        AIR TRACTOR 301     CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 40, 13200
        TIME - 1745                    N4397S              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 1000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          RIO HONDO,TX                LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: CROP                                      IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 6000                       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -ROLLING
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  20                  SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4397S](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4397S), registered now, S/N 301-0057 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR 301
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (registry code 0390103) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780801021509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780801021509A), Aug 1, 1978: Airtrc AT301, Rio Hondo, 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.

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