- Date
- July 26, 1990, 00:30 local (07:30 UTC)
- Place
- San Joaquin, CA
- Injuries
- 1 fatal
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N7315SAir Tractor AT-401
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Status
- Completed · report November 23, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900726028719A
- Case key
- 26561
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
The failure of the no. 4 cylinder head.
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
The pilot experienced an engine failure during aerial application, landed in a field and the aircraft flipped over. The aircraft remained intact with no fire. The pilot expired from 'positional asphyxia.' Examination of the engine revealed the no. 4 cylinder was cracked around the cooling fins and continued through the center of the spark plug boss. The engine had 7251 total hours and 339 hours since overhaul.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7315S
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 401-0673
- Airframe hours
- 1,682
- Engine
- P&W R1340-AN-1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Grouleff Aviation, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Grouleff Aviation, Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 11, 1990 · 249 hours before
- Destination
- 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
- 56
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Toxicology
- Performed
- Flight hours
- 16,500 total · 8,000 in this make and model · 16,500 as pilot in command · 175 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Night/dark
- Wind
- 310° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- FAT, 25 nm away
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.