# NTSB LAX81DUM13: Air Tractor AT-301, N4399S, Brawley, CA, March 3, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Closed
- Date: March 3, 1981
- 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: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 21, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 126995
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DUM13
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DUM13

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0512   81/3/3    BRAWLEY,CA          AIR TRACTOR AT-301  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 52, 21216
        TIME - 1345                    N4399S              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 2494 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, INSTRUMENT RATED.
        NAME OF AIRPORT - AG STRIP
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          BRAWLEY,CA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: CLIMB TO CRUISE
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: ROLL
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           POWERPLANT - ENGINE STRUCTURE: BLOWER,IMPELLER ASSEMBLY
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - MATERIAL FAILURE
        FACTOR(S)
           TERRAIN - HIGH VEGETATION
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOAD NOT JETTISONED
        PARTIAL POWER LOSS - PARTIAL LOSS OF POWER - 1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE-NOT USED                        COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED
          CRASH BAR - INSTALLED                                    TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT
          TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- LNDD IN GRAIN FLD.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4399S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4399S-2008-01-24), registration cancelled 2008-01-24, S/N 301-0059 (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: Substantial damage
- Airport: Ag Strip

## 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 19810303018409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810303018409A), Mar 3, 1981: Airtrc AT301, Brawley, CA, Substantial damage. Forced landing due to failure of impeller shaft.

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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