# NTSB LAX89DVA10: Air Tractor AT-301, N8578S, Mendota, CA, September 13, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: September 13, 1989, 08:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place: Mendota, CA
- Coordinates: 36.670436, -120.450492 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6704&lon=-120.4505&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26157
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89DVA10
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26157/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DVA10

## 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

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application
  - stall warning system - disconnected (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vso) - not identified, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/mush - not corrected, pilot in command (cause)

## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8578S-1999-07-13), registration cancelled 1999-07-13, S/N 301-0151 (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
- Serial number: 301-0151
- Airframe hours: 4799
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 34; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19890913034869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890913034869A), Sep 13, 1989: Airtrc AT301, Mendota, CA, Substantial damage. Mushed into ground in a highway median while maneuvering for a spray run. Stall warning wires not connected.

## Other investigations on N8578S (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 LAX79DVA48](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX79DVA48), Jul 16, 1979: Air Tractor AT-301 (N8578S), Mendota, 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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.