# NTSB FTW97LA242: Air Tractor AT-301, N4396S, Edna, TX, June 30, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 30, 1997, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC)
- Place: Edna, TX
- Coordinates: 28.970888, -96.640686 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9709&lon=-96.6407&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 26, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 20260
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW97LA242
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/20260/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA242

## Probable cause

failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from a guy wire, during a swath run.

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application
  - object - guy wire
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

According to the pilot, he finished spraying a 110 acre milo field with 'no problems.'  The pilot reported that he was 'on the last pass which was along some highlines when the airplane's left wing struck a guy wire cutting off the outer 4 feet of the left wing.'  He said that the airplane rolled left and struck the ground, coming to rest on the gear 'right side up.'

## Factual narrative

On June 30, 1997, at 0930 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301 agricultural airplane, N4396S, was substantially damaged when it struck a guy wire and subsequently impacted the ground while maneuvering near Edna, Texas.  The commercial pilot, sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured.  The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the White Flying Service of La Ward, Texas, under Title 14 CFR Part 137.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight which had originated approximately 35 minutes before the accident.  No flight plan had been filed for the flight.

According to the pilot, he was finishing spraying a 110 acre milo field with "no problems."  The pilot reported that he was "on the last pass which was along some high lines when the airplane's left wing struck a guy wire cutting off the outer 4 feet of the left wing."  He said that the airplane rolled left and struck the ground coming to rest on the gear "right side up."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4396S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4396S-2016-11-09), registration cancelled 2016-11-09, S/N 301-0056, built 1976 (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)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 300-0056
- Engines: P&W R-1340AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Donald R. White
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 13, 1997
- Departed: NONE, TX

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,272 total, 301 in this make and model, 1,164 as pilot in command, 227 in the last 90 days, 89 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: VCT, 28 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 19970630016339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970630016339A), Jun 30, 1997: Airtrc AT301, Lawrd, TX, Substantial damage. Spraying field edges hit power P9OLE guy wires. Cut through a wing. Crashed. Wire unmarked. (-23) in the pilot statement he reported he was making the last…

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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