# NTSB FTW81FRG55: Air Tractor AT-301, N4416S, La Villa, TX, July 14, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 14, 1981
- Place: La Villa, TX · LA VILLA, TX
- Location: 26.2963° N, 97.9269° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of La Villa, TX, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2963&lon=-97.9269&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 13, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124930
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW81FRG55
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW81FRG55

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1397  81/7/14    LA VILLA,TX         AIR TRACTOR AT-301  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 55, 13756
        TIME - 1300                    N4416S              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 2756 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          LA VILLA,TX                 LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: SWATH RUN
           COLLIDED WITH: CROP                                      LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE CONTROLS: PROPELLER GOVERNOR CONTROLS
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - DISCONNECTED
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND                          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
        REMARKS- CTL CABLE FM RPM CTL LVR CAME LOOSE & PROP WENT TO LOW RPM PSN.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4416S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4416S-1994-04-22), registration cancelled 1994-04-22, S/N 3010076 (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

## 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 19810714041269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810714041269A), Jul 14, 1981: Airtrc AT301, North Lavilla, TX, Substantial damage. Engine lost power during spraying operation. Aircraft crashed in cornfield when pilot attempted emergency 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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