# NTSB FTW79FRG51: Air Tractor AT-301, N4424S, Taft, TX, August 11, 1979

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Closed
- Date: August 11, 1979
- Place: Taft, TX · TAFT, TX
- Location: 27.9800° N, 97.3928° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Taft, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9800&lon=-97.3928&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 27, 1979
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 134258
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW79FRG51
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW79FRG51

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2912  79/8/11    TAFT,TX             AIR TRACTOR AT-301  CR-  0  1  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 40, 1300
        TIME - 0745                    N4424S              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 450 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - HUNTS
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          TAFT,TX                     LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO ABORT TAKEOFF
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - IMPROPERLY LOADED AIRCRAFT-WEIGHT-AND/OR C.G.
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - JETTISONED LOAD
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 1000                       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (LIQUID)
          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
        REMARKS- ACFT GROSS WT APRX 6680LBS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4424S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4424S-1997-01-13), registration cancelled 1997-01-13, S/N 3010084 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Hunts

## 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 19790811031459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19790811031459A), Aug 11, 1979: Airtrc AT301, Taft, TX, Substantial damage. Acft failed to become airborne on takeoff. Hit a ditch turned over.

## Other investigations on N4424S (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 FTW96LA219](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA219), May 18, 1996: Air Tractor AT-301 (N4424S), Griffithville, AR, destroyed. Probable cause: loss of engine oil (leak) for an undetermined reason, which resulted in oil starvation and a loss of engine power; and failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed during the emergency descent/landing…

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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