- Date
- June 27, 1994, 09:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Walls, MS
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N45332Air Tractor AT-401
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940627019509A
- Case key
- 37568
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 partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. The sandy terrain was a factor.
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 lost partial power during the takeoff roll. The pilot aborted the takeoff; however, he could not stop the aircraft prior to over-running the runway and nosing over in sand. Post crash examination of the engine revealed no reason for the loss of engine power.
Factual narrative
On June 27, 1994, about 0900 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401, N45332, registered to Broadway and Freiman Aircraft, nosed over during an aborted takeoff from the Delta Dusters, Inc. strip at Walls, Mississippi, while on a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot received minor injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated the engine began to "spit and sputter" and lose power during the takeoff roll. He aborted the takeoff; however, he was unable to stop the aircraft before over running the runway and nosing over in sand.
Postcrash examination of the engine by the operator indicated the carburetor contained clean fuel. The engine assembly rotated freely and there was no evidence to indicate cylinder malfunction or failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N45332
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 401-0772
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Delta Dusters, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Broadway And Freiman Aircraft
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 1, 1994
- Airport
- ZDWG · Delta Dusters, runway 18, 2,640 × 150 ft, asphalt
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
- 40
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 4,777 total · 1,200 in this make and model · 4,709 as pilot in command · 150 in the last 90 days · 125 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 30° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- MEM, 15 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.