# NTSB FTW86FQG09: Air Tractor AT-400A, N23592, Hereford, TX, February 19, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: February 19, 1986, 10:36 local (16:36 UTC)
- Place: Hereford, TX
- Coordinates: 34.819869, -102.389831 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8199&lon=-102.3898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21945
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW86FQG09
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21945/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW86FQG09

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT REPTD THAT AS HE WAS RETURNING TO THE ARPT, THE ENG LOST POWER FROM A 'LOW FUEL AND/OR ROUGH AIR' CONDITION. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED WHEN IT WAS LANDED ON UNEVEN TERRAIN NEAR A CREEK. LESS THAN 1 GAL OF FUEL WAS REMAINING IN THE ACFT. THE FUEL CAPACITY OF THE ACFT WAS 126 GAL OF WHICH 6 GAL WAS CONSIDERED AS UNUSABLE.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23592](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23592-1992-05-20), registration cancelled 1992-05-20, S/N 400A0397 (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)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 400A-0397
- Airframe hours: 1133
- Engines: P&W PT6A-20 turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Whiteface Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1986, 3 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 5,469 total, 1,069 in this make and model, 5,288 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 265° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: AMA, 42 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 19860219003389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860219003389A), Feb 19, 1986: Airtrc AT400A, Hereford, TX, Substantial damage. Fuel was exhausted on return to airport from spray operation. Collided with rocky uphill terrain.

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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