MIA98LA181

The pilot reported to the NTSB that while he was on an aerial application flight the airplane's engine 'failed...at a low level,' and he had to set down 'immediately.' He landed in a bean field. He said, '...the plane landed fine but the tailwheel broke off and the plane ground looped...the terrain was rough...but was flat.' According to the FAA, the pilot stated that was returning to the airstrip and was sight seeing, flying slow when he saw some power lines in front of him. He panicked and shoved the power up abruptly, the engine coughed and backfired and the aircraft mushed into the ground. Examination of the airplane disclosed no discrepancies with the airframe or the engine.

On May 24, 1998, about 1030 central daylight time, an Air Tractor Inc. AT-401, N1008Y, registered to a private owner, and operating as a Title 14 CFR Part 137, aerial application flight, impacted with the ground near Rich, Mississippi. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot reported no injuries. The flight had departed from Clarksdale, Mississippi, at an unknown time.

The pilot reported to the FAA that he was cruising at a low altitude, when he had to suddenly add power to avoid some power lines. The pilot told the FAA, the engine flooded and he lost power. The airplane nosed over and the pilot pulled back on the controls to avoid impacting the ground nose first. The airplane impacted the ground tail first, the right wing struck the ground, and the airplane struck a fence post.

The FAA inspector said he interviewed the pilot and the pilot said, "...he was returning back to the airstrip and was sight seeing, flying slow when he saw some power lines in front of him. He panicked and shoved the power up abruptly, the engine coughed and backfired and mushed into the ground." The person that removed the airplane from the field told the FAA inspector that there "...was plenty of fuel." No discrepancies were reported with the airframe or the engine.

Several attempts by the NTSB and FAA to reach the pilot and have him return the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, were not successful. On November 25, 1998, the pilot returned the 6120. 1/2. He said he had many addresses since the accident and never received the form. A new form was sent to him and he said while he was on an aerial application flight the airplane's engine "failed...at a low level," and he had to set down "immediately." He landed in a bean field. He said, "...the plane landed fine but the tailwheel broke off and the plane ground looped...the terrain was rough...but was flat."