- Date
- September 13, 1989, 08:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place
- Mendota, CA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N8578SAir Tractor AT-301
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890913034869A
- Case key
- 26157
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A loss of aircraft control by the pilot when he slowed the aircraft to begin a spray run. Contributing to the loss of control was the inoperative stall warning system.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Reportedly, the aircraft settled downward as it was slowed to begin a spray run. The pilot added full throttle and jettisoned the hopper contents before the aircraft collided with the ground. Inspection of the stall warning system revealed the stall warning was not connected. The engine had been operating with automotive fuel. There were no mechanical malfunctions found with the aircraft or engine prior to the accident sequence.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8578S
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 301-0151
- Airframe hours
- 4,799
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Ronald Wilson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 19, 1988 · 524 hours before
- Departed
- Mendota, CA
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 3,220 total · 848 in this make and model · 206 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N8578S · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.