# NTSB LAX89DUQ04: Air Tractor AT-300, N4324S, New Cuyama, CA, August 15, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 15, 1989, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: New Cuyama, CA
- Coordinates: 34.840881, -119.269264 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8409&lon=-119.2693&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 22, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26146
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89DUQ04
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26146/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DUQ04

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S MISMANAGEMENT OF THE FUEL SUPPLY WHICH LED TO AN ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO FUEL EXHAUSTION AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH THE GROUND BY ALLOWING THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach
  - fuel consumption calculations - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency
  - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT LOST ENGINE POWER, STALLED, AND COLLIDED WITH THE GROUND DURING A RETURN TO A PRIVATE AIR STRIP. EXAMINATION OF THE FUEL SYSTEM REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL IN THE AIRCRAFT OR ON THE GROUND AT THE ACCIDENT SITE. DISASSEMBLY OF THE CARBURETOR REVEALED ABOUT SEVEN OUNCES OF FUEL IN THE FLOAT CHAMBER. ACCORDING TO SPECIFICATIONS, 46 OUNCES OF FUEL WOULD HAVE BEEN REQUIRED TO FILL THE CHAMBER.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4324S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4324S-1990-08-10), registration cancelled 1990-08-10, S/N 3000004 (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: 301-0004
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Robert Jackson
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Departed: NEW CUYAMA, CA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 39; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 15,000 total, 3,000 in this make and model, 15,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 12 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °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 19890815031789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890815031789A), Aug 15, 1989: Airtrc AT301, New Cuyama, CA, Destroyed. Engine quit. Stalled trying to make forced landing. Beleived to be fuel exhaustion.

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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