- Date
- June 21, 1995, 11:25 local (16:25 UTC)
- Place
- Hearne, TX
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4537LAir Tractor AT-401
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report August 31, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950621048809A
- Case key
- 19466
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power as result of the failure of the number two cylinder. Factors were the unsuitable terrain available for the forced landing and the pilot's restricted vision due to oil on the windshield.
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
The engine lost power during the initial takeoff climb from an agricultural airstrip. The pilot's vision was restricted by the oil covering the windshield. According to the operator, during the forced landing to a cotton field, the airplane landed hard and control was lost. Post accident examination of the engine by the operator revealed that the loss of engine power was the result of the failure of the number two cylinder.
Factual narrative
On June 21, 1995, at 1125 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401, N4537L, was destroyed during a forced landing near Hearne, Texas. The commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight.
According to the operator, the engine lost power during initial takeoff climb while departing an agricultural airstrip with a load of pesticides. He added that the pilot's windshield was covered with engine oil restricting the pilot's vision. He further stated that the airplane landed hard in a cotton field, followed by a loss of control.
Post accident examination of the engine by the operator revealed that the loss of engine power was due to the failure of the number two cylinder.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4537L
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 401-0781
- Airframe hours
- 2,658
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Sam Corpora
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 12, 1995 · 42 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
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
- 56
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 8,800 total · 639 in this make and model · 8,800 as pilot in command · 107 in the last 90 days · 90 in the last 30 days · 6 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- CLL, 30 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.