# NTSB LAX81FUM01: Air Tractor AT-300, N4356S, Imperial, CA, October 4, 1980

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: October 4, 1980
- Place: Imperial, CA · IMPERIAL, CA
- Location: 32.8388° N, 115.5720° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Imperial, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8388&lon=-115.5720&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report January 27, 1990
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 127965
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FUM01
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FUM01

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-3394   80/10/4 NR.IMPERIAL,CA        AIR TRACTOR AT-300  CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 0532                    N4356S              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 43, 15107 TOTAL
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            HOURS, 2718 IN TYPE,
                                                                                                   INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         IMPERIAL,CA                  LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLISION WITH GROUND/WATER: UNCONTROLLED                IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - CONTINUED VFR FLIGHT INTO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS
           PILOT IN COMMAND - SPATIAL DISORIENTATION
        FACTOR(S)
           WEATHER - LOW CEILING
           WEATHER - FOG
        WEATHER BRIEFING - NO RECORD OF BRIEFING RECEIVED
        SKY CONDITION                                            CEILING AT ACCIDENT SITE
          OBSCURATION                                               200
        VISIBILITY AT ACCIDENT SITE                              PRECIPITATION AT ACCIDENT SITE
          1/4 MILE OR LESS                                         NONE
        OBSTRUCTIONS TO VISION AT ACCIDENT SITE                  TEMPERATURE-F
          FOG                                                       72
        TYPE OF WEATHER CONDITIONS                               TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN
          IFR                                                      NONE
         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-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -FASTENED-PROPERLY                    GLOVES - NOT USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  0                   SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - FIRST 1/3 TURN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- FLEW INTO FOG BANK WHILE SPRAYING ALFALFA.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4356S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4356S-1981-02-19), registration cancelled 1981-02-19, S/N 300-0036, built 1976 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-300
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-300](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-300) (registry code 0390101) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed

## 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 19801004078669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19801004078669A), Oct 4, 1980: Airtrc AT301, Imperial, CA, Destroyed. Ag pilot flew into fog bank during spray operation. Lost control and crashed.

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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