# NTSB LAX80FUM26: Air Tractor AT-301, N8544S, Brawley, CA, August 26, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: August 26, 1980
- Place: Brawley, CA · BRAWLEY, CA
- Location: 32.9785° N, 115.5286° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Brawley, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9785&lon=-115.5286&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report October 14, 1980
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 129312
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX80FUM26
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX80FUM26

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2710  80/8/26    BRAWLEY,CA          AIR TRACTOR AT-301  CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 43, 3500
        TIME - 0120                    N8544S              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 2042 IN
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - BRAWLEY MUNI
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BRAWLEY,CA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            TAKEOFF: INITIAL CLIMB
           STALL                                                    LANDING: FINAL APPROACH
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: CYLINDER ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 2800                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE-NOT USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
        REMARKS- NO 2 & 3 CYL HOLD DOWN STUDS SEPARATED.ARPT ELEV MINUS 128FT MSL.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8544S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8544S-1980-12-11), registration cancelled 1980-12-11, S/N AT301-141 (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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Airport: Brawley Muni

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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