# NTSB FTW94LA278: Air Tractor AT-301, N4360S, Lazbuddie, TX, August 22, 1994

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 22, 1994, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Lazbuddie, TX
- Coordinates: 34.389831, -102.609924 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3898&lon=-102.6099&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 27, 1995
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 19146
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW94LA278
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19146/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW94LA278

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S PREMATURE LIFTOFF AND THE RESULTANT STALL DURING TAKEOFF. A FACTOR WAS THE DENSITY ALTITUDE.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted
  - object - fence
- Nose over, takeoff - aborted

## Analysis

THE FLIGHT HAD DEPARTED THE AIRSTRIP EARLIER THAT DAY WITH THE SAME LOAD. ON THIS FLIGHT THE TEMPERATURE WAS UP TO 93 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT WITH A CALCULATED DENSITY ALTITUDE OF 6,500 FEET. THE PILOT REPORTED THE WIND WAS GUSTY AND ALMOST A DIRECT CROSSWIND. ON TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED APPROXIMATELY 6 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THEN SETTLED BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT THEN ABORTED THE TAKEOFF BY SHUTTING THE ENGINE DOWN. THE AIRPLANE HIT A FENCE AND CAME TO REST INVERTED IN A FIELD ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY.

## Factual narrative

On August 22, 1994, at 1400 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N4360S, was substantially damaged during takeoff near Lazbuddie, Texas.  The commercial pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight.

The flight had departed the airstrip earlier that day with the same load.  On this flight the temperature was up to 93 degrees Fahrenheit with a calculated density altitude of 6,500 feet.  According to the pilot, the wind was gusty, almost a direct crosswind, as the aircraft lifted off, climbed approximately 6 feet above the ground and then settled back onto the runway.

The pilot "shut the engine down" and the airplane rolled into a fence at the departure end of the runway and came to rest inverted in a field adjacent to the runway.  The FAA Inspector reported damage to the engine, engine mount, firewall, and wings. According to the pilot's enclosed report, there were no mechanical malfunctions.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4360S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4360S-1995-04-28), registration cancelled 1995-04-28, S/N 3010040 (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
- Serial number: 301-0040
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Walker, John N.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Destination: TX
- Airport: runway 27, 2,000 × 20 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 3,400 total, 301 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 213 in the last 90 days, 112 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 93 °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 19940822022649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940822022649A), Aug 22, 1994: Airtrc AT301, Lazbuddie, TX, Substantial damage. Settled after liftoff. Aborted and ran off end of strip into fence. Flipped over. High temperature a factor.

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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