- Date
- August 4, 1990, 08:40 local (15:40 UTC)
- Place
- Tule Lake, CA
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N45116Air Tractor AT-401
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 23, 1992
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19900804030199A
- Case key
- 26590
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
An engine failure due to mechanical failure of the distributor.
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 engine quit when the pilot pulled up to make another spray run. The pilot landed in a field and collided with a 12 inch water line. The landing gear collapsed and the aircraft nosed over. Examination found the right magneto missing approximately 50 percent of the teeth from the distributor gear.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N45116
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 401-0752
- Airframe hours
- 301
- Engine
- P&W R1340 AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Macys Flying Service Inc.
- Registered owner
- Macy'S Flying Service Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · April 12, 1990 · 301 hours before
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
- 48
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 6,187 total · 260 in this make and model · 6,187 as pilot in command · 260 in the last 90 days · 145 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- 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.