# NTSB LAX81DVA53: Air Tractor AT-301, N4341S, San Joaquin, CA, July 15, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: July 15, 1981
- Place: San Joaquin, CA · SAN JOAQUIN, CA
- Location: 36.6056° N, 120.1898° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of San Joaquin, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6056&lon=-120.1898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 24, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 124940
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81DVA53
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DVA53

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-1560  81/7/15    SAN JOAQUIN,CA      AIR TRACTOR AT-301  CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, AGE 34, 4000
        TIME - 0100                    N4341S              PX-  0  0  0  ASSOC CROP CTL ACTIVITY   TOTAL HOURS, 3000 IN
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            TYPE, NOT INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
          SAN JOAQUIN,CA              LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           ENGINE FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION                            IN FLIGHT: NORMAL CRUISE
           NOSE OVER/DOWN                                           LANDING: LEVEL OFF/TOUCHDOWN
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT PREPARATION AND/OR PLANNING
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISMANAGEMENT OF FUEL
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - FUEL EXHAUSTION
        FACTOR(S)
           POWERPLANT - POWERPLANT-INSTRUMENTS: FUEL QUANTITY GAUGE
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - ERRATIC
           TERRAIN - WET,SOFT GROUND
        COMPLETE POWER LOSS - COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE/FLAMEOUT-1 ENGINE
        EMERGENCY CIRCUMSTANCES - FORCED LANDING OFF AIRPORT ON LAND
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 3000                       KIND OF OPERATION - SPRAYING CROPS
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - DRY CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - USED                                           CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
        REMARKS- FORCED LDG IN FRESHLY IRRIGATED COTTON FIELD AFTER SPRAYING ALFALFA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4341S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4341S-1988-11-23), registration cancelled 1988-11-23, S/N 3010021 (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

## 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 19810715041179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810715041179A), Jul 15, 1981: Airtrc AT301, San Joaquin, CA, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel during night ag operation. Crash landed in a cotton field. Fuel gauge not accurate.

## Other investigations on N4341S (1)

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.

- [NTSB LAX81DVA02](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DVA02), Oct 5, 1981: Air Tractor AT-301 (N4341S), San Joaquin, CA, substantial damage

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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