# NTSB MIA88LA229: Air Tractor AT-301, N23640, Moorhead, MS, July 18, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 18, 1988, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
- Place: Moorhead, MS
- Coordinates: 33.439781, -90.499404 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4398&lon=-90.4994&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 11, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32217
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA88LA229
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32217/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA88LA229

## Sequence of events

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

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - load jettison - attempted

## Analysis

WHILE ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLT DURING THE GROUND ROLL THE WIND CHANGED FROM A HEADWIND TO A TAILWIND. THE PLT DUMPED THE LOAD OF CHEMICAL IN AN ATTEMPT TO CLIMB BUT THE ACFT CRASHED INTO A FISH POND.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N23640](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N23640-1998-10-31), registration cancelled 1998-10-31, S/N 3010405 (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: 301-0405
- Airframe hours: 1804
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Gary Flying Service
- Registered owner: Gary, Mark
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 27, 1987, 303 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 24; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 3,160 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 3,107 as pilot in command, 225 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: GWO, 19 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19880718063959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880718063959A), Jul 18, 1988: Airtrc AT301, Moorhead, MS, Substantial damage. Wind shifted to tailwind departing ag strip. Dumped load but settled into a pond off end of strip.

## Other investigations on N23640 (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 CHI97LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI97LA124), May 7, 1997: Air Tractor AT-301 (N23640), Huron, SD, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from known transmission lines.

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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