# NTSB LAX84LA208: Air Tractor AT-300, N4336S, Delano, CA, March 7, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 6, 1984, 17:30 local (Mar 7, 1984, 01:30 UTC)
- Place: Delano, CA
- Coordinates: 35.780349, -119.229232 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7803&lon=-119.2292&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 24193
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX84LA208
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/24193/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX84LA208

## Sequence of events

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

- Undershoot, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - planned approach - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - distance - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - airspeed - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach
  - object - vehicle (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS MAKING A TIGHT, 180 DEGREE, RIGHT TURN FROM DOWNWIND TO FINAL WHEN HE FELT A BUFFET. HE THEN APPLIED POWER AND LOWERED THE NOSE. HE STATED HE REMAINED IN THE TURN TO AVOID POWER LINES. THE POWER LINES WERE LOCATED ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. AFTER ABOUT 165 DEG OF TURN, THE MAIN GEAR CONTACTED THE GROUND PRIOR TO THE THRESHOLD WHILE THE WINGS WERE NEARLY LEVEL. THE PLT STATED THAT WHEN THE ACFT TOUCHED DOWN, THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED A PIECE OF FARM EQUIPMENT & THE LEFT BOOM STRUCK A WOOD PILE. THE ACFT CONTINUED TO TRAVEL UNTIL IT HIT A DITCH & NOSED OVER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4336S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4336S-1992-10-05), registration cancelled 1992-10-05, S/N 300-0016, built 1975 (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
- Serial number: 300-0016
- Airframe hours: 3471
- Engines: P&W R-985-AN1 450 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Mcfarland Crop Dusters, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, January 10, 1983, 21 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 2,100 total, 420 in this make and model, 2,050 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19840306043719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840306043719A), Mar 6, 1984: Airtrc AT300, Delano, CA, Substantial damage. Struck farm equipment on a low short approach to the ag strip. Stopped inverted in a ditch.

## Other investigations on N4336S (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 LAX81DVA05](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81DVA05), Oct 9, 1980: Air Tractor AT-300 (N4336S), Pixley, CA, destroyed

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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