# NTSB FTW81FRG36: Air Tractor AT-301, N8523S, Pharr, TX, May 17, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: May 17, 1981
- Place: Pharr, TX · PHARR, TX
- Location: 26.1634° N, 98.1939° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Pharr, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.1634&lon=-98.1939&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 29, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126077
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FRG36
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FRG36

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0977  81/5/17    PHARR,TX            AIR TRACTOR AT-301  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 48, 13000
        TIME - 1820                    N8523S              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 480 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - COPOTE
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          PHARR,TX                    LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - IMPROPER OPERATION OF BRAKES AND/OR FLIGHT CONTROLS
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - CHECKLIST-FAILED TO USE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -   25                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
        REMARKS- PRKING BRAKE ON.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8523S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8523S-2011-06-22), registration cancelled 2011-06-22, S/N 301-0135, built 1978 (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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Airport: Copote

## 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 19810517026909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810517026909A), May 17, 1981: Airtrc AT301, Pharr, TX, Substantial damage. Ag pilot landed aircraft with parking brake on. Aircraft flipped inverted.

## Other investigations on N8523S (3)

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 FTW95LA028](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA028), Oct 21, 1994: Air Tractor AT-301 (N8523S), Lubbock, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE WITH THE IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT. A FACTOR WAS PILOT FATIGUE.
- [NTSB FTW85LA039](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85LA039), Nov 8, 1984: Air Tractor AT-301 (N8523S), Mission, TX, substantial damage
- [NTSB FTW82DRG32](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW82DRG32), May 14, 1982: Air Tractor 301 (N8523S), Mcallen, 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.

---
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.