# NTSB FTW83FA270: Air Tractor AT-400A, N31619, Lane City, TX, June 9, 1983

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 1983, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: Lane City, TX
- Coordinates: 29.189743, -95.990318 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1897&lon=-95.9903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20733
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW83FA270
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20733/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW83FA270

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Abrupt maneuver, maneuvering - aerial application
  - pull-up - excessive, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate transition/upgrade training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in personal ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS LEADING A FLT OF 2 ACFT ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION MISSION. THE PLT OF THE 2ND ACFT STATED THAT AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN, THE LEAD ACFT PULLED UP TO AN ALMOST VERTICAL ATTITUDE & TO AN ALT OF BETWEEN 300 & 400 FT AGL. AT THAT TIME, THE PLANE STALLED & CONTINUED OVER ONTO ITS BACK, THEN ENTERED AN INVERTED SPIN. REPORTEDLY, THE SPIN CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 TURNS UNTIL THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, SLIGHTLY INVERTED, ATTITUDE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT WAS HIGHLY QUALIFIED IN AG OPERATIONS, BUT HAD ONLY RECENTLY STARTED FLYING TURBINED POWER ACFT. REPORTEDLY, HE HAD RECEIVED NO FORMAL TRAINING IN THIS MODEL OF THE ACFT NOR IN THE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF TURBINE ENGS. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE WAS MADE, BUT NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N31619](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N31619-2013-06-11), registration cancelled 2013-06-11, S/N 400A-0499, built 1983 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-400A
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-400A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400a) (registry code 0390203) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 400A-0499
- Airframe hours: 73
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 550 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: 0obert R. Shanks
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1983, 73 hours before
- Departed: WHARTON, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 13,397 total, 73 in this make and model, 13,397 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: HOU, 58 nm away

## 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 19830609024569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19830609024569A), Jun 9, 1983: Airtrc AT400A, Lane City, TX, Destroyed. Ag pilot pulled up at the end of spray run, stalled and spun aircraft into the ground.

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.