# NTSB MIA89LA127: Air Tractor AT-301, N3159D, Fort Pierce, FL, April 13, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 13, 1989, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC)
- Place: Fort Pierce, FL
- Location: 27.4256° N, 80.3404° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Fort Pierce, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4256&lon=-80.3404&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 June 28, 1991
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32421
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA89LA127
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32421/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA89LA127

## Probable cause

FAILURE OF THE NUMBER FIVE CYLINDER.  FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE:   THE PROXIMITY OF HOMES IN THE AREA, WHICH PRECLUDED JETTISONING OF THE CHEMICAL LOAD,  AND HIGH VEGETATION IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - engine assembly,cylinder - failure,total (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
  - object - residence (contributing factor)
  - load jettison - performed
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THAT WHILE CLIMBING AFTER TAKEOFF, THE ACFT ENG STARTED TO GRADUALLY LOSE POWER,  THEN STARTED MISSING. SUBSEQUENTLY, HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN SOME PALMETTO BUSHES, WHICH DAMAGED THE ACFT'S LANDING GEAR & WINGS. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THE #5 CYLINDER ASSEMBLY WAS CRACKED, WHICH RESULTED IN THE LOSS OF POWER.  THE PLT NOTED THAT THERE WERE HOMES IN THE AREA, WHICH PRECLUDED HIM FROM JETTISONING HIS LOAD.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3159D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3159D-2022-09-03), registration cancelled 2022-09-03, S/N 301-0471, built 1982 (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)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A-20A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-20a-series) (registry code 52139, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 301-0471
- Airframe hours: 4232
- Engines: P&W R-1340-53H1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: S.Eastern Aerial Crop Svc.
- Registered owner: Southeastern Aircraft Sales
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, March 15, 1989, 96 hours before
- Departed: FPR, FORT PIERCE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 25,000 total, 3,700 in this make and model, 26,300 as pilot in command, 162 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: VRB, 10 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 19890413007879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890413007879A), Apr 13, 1989: Airtrc AT301, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on takeoff. Unable to dump load crashed in trees between houses. Nr 5 cylinder assembly had cracked

## Other investigations on N3159D (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 CEN10CA262](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA262), May 20, 2010: Air Tractor AT-301 (N3159D), D'Hanis, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly set the airplane's flaps prior to takeoff.

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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