# NTSB FTW84LA363: Air Tractor AT301, N2356M, Plain Dealing, LA, August 22, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 22, 1984, 18:20 local (23:20 UTC)
- Place: Plain Dealing, LA
- Coordinates: 32.900009, -93.689521 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9000&lon=-93.6895&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): 21439
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW84LA363
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21439/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW84LA363

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - crop

## Analysis

WITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE ACFT MADE A DESCENDING LOW LEVEL TURN AT THE END OF A SPRAY RUN, NOSED OVER AND DOVE INTO THE SOYBEAN FLD BEING SPRAYED. THE PLT WAS NOT WEARING A SHOULDER HARNESS OR HELMET WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. TOXICOLOGY RESULTS REVEALED A LOW LEVEL OF CHOLINESTERASE IN THE PLTS BLOOD. THE CHEMICAL BEING SPRAYED WAS METHYL PARATHION WHICH IS A CHOLINESTERASE INHIBITOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2356M (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT301
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 301-0396
- Airframe hours: 1281
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Ag Air Inc
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 30, 1983

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 31; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 5,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 235 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F

## 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 19840822042769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840822042769A), Aug 22, 1984: Airtrc AT301, Plain Dealing, LA, Destroyed. Dived into the ground during a procedure turn around. Pilots blood tested positive for toxic chemical ingestion.

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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