# NTSB FTW81FQG25: Air Tractor AT400, N36538, Patricia, TX, May 1, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 1, 1981
- Place: Patricia, TX · PATRICIA, TX
- Location: 32.5545° N, 102.0204° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Patricia, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5545&lon=-102.0204&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 July 2, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126120
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FQG25
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FQG25

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1031   81/5/1  NR.PATRICIA,TX        AIR TRACTOR AT400   CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1500                    N36538              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   AGE 43, 4265 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            85 IN TYPE, NOT
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         PATRICIA,TX                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - MISCELLANEOUS: POWERPLANT FAILURE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOAD NOT JETTISONED
           TERRAIN - SANDY
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 4000                       KIND OF OPERATION - FERTILIZING (DUST)
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    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 -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  3000                SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N36538](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N36538-2018-05-18), registration cancelled 2018-05-18, S/N 400-0280 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT400
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400) (registry code 0390202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: turbo prop
- 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 19810501021039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810501021039A), May 1, 1981: Airtrc AT400, Patricia, TX, Substantial damage. Pilot claimed engine quit on takeoff from ag strip. No engine or fuel problems found after accident. Ignition off.

## Other investigations on N36538 (2)

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 CEN13LA486](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA486), Aug 9, 2013: Air Tractor AT-400 (N36538), Dumas, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing.
- [NTSB FTW97LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA245), Jun 11, 1997: Air Tractor AT-400A (N36538), Church Point, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improperly performed short field takeoff procedures.

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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