- Date
- July 14, 1982, 11:45 local (16:45 UTC)
- Place
- Rio Hondo, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4448SAir Tractor AT-301
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 14, 1983
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19820714032829A
- Case key
- 72393
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Immediately after takeoff, the engine lost power and a forced landing was made in a field of tall cotton. After landing in the cotton field with four-foot-high stalks, the pilot as unable to maintain directional control and the plane was substantially damaged. Examination of the engine revealed a blown seal in the engine super charger blower.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4448S
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0078
- Airframe hours
- 2,316
- Engine
- P & W R-1340-AN-1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Burke Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Burke Flying Service
- Departed
- XS64 · Rio Hondo, TX
- Destination
- XS64 · Rio Hondo, TX
- Airport
- XS64 · Burkes Strip
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 42
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Flight hours
- 12,250 total · 4,000 in this make and model · 275 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,200 ft broken
- Temperature
- 199 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N4448S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.