# NTSB MIA89FA164: Air Tractor AT-401, N1012H, Clarksdale, MS, May 30, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: May 30, 1989, 08:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place: Clarksdale, MS
- Coordinates: 34.200172, -90.569358 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2002&lon=-90.5694&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report August 22, 1990
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32293
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89FA164
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32293/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89FA164

## Probable cause

THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE STALLING AND DESCENDING OUT OF CONTROL.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - crop

## Analysis

THE PLT WAS TURNING DOWNWIND FOR ANOTHER AERIAL APPLICATION PASS WHEN THE ACFT STALLED AND DROPPED INTO A RIGHT WING LOW DESCENT WHICH BECAME ALMOST VERTICAL PRIOR TO GROUND CONTACT. THE RADIAL ENGINE WAS BURIED TO A DEPTH OF 4 FT IN THE CULTIVATED SOIL.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1012H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1012H-1992-06-12), registration cancelled 1992-06-12, S/N 4010715 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT-401
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-401](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (registry code 0390204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 401-0715
- Airframe hours: 21
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Jack W. Shannon
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 1989, 21 hours before
- Departed: CLARKSDALE, MS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 26; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 875 total, 48 in this make and model, 817 as pilot in command, 77 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: GWO, 48 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 19890530013379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890530013379A), May 30, 1989: Airtrc AT400, Clarksdale, MS, Destroyed. Stalled in a procedure turn and impacted vertically in a cotton field. Ignored stall warning horn as normal ops.

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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