# NTSB WPR10CA332: Air Tractor AT-301, N8878S, Garfield, WA, July 6, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 6, 2010, 12:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Garfield, WA - Coordinates: 47.004722, -117.138053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.0047&lon=-117.1381&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76548 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA332 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76548/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76548 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA332 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: fuel planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 719 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061030/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Fuel exhaustion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 804 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/192/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-301, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=0390103), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he ran out of fuel while spraying crops and initiated a forced landing to a field. The pilot said that he landed hard and the engine separated from the airframe. The airplane’s fuselage and wing were substantially damaged. Despite numerous attempts to contact the pilot, at the time this report was written, the pilot has not responded to the NTSB investigator-in-charge or submitted a completed NTSB pilot/operator 6120.1 form. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported to the Federal Aviation Administration that he ran out of fuel while spraying crops and initiated a forced landing into a field. The pilot stated that he landed hard and the engine was separated from the airframe and subsequently broke in half. The airplane’s fuselage and wing were substantially damaged. Despite numerous attempts to contact the pilot, at the time this report was written, the pilot has not responded to the NTSB investigator-in-charge or submitted a completed NTSB pilot/operator 6120.1 form. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8878S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8878S-2015-12-22), registration cancelled 2015-12-22, S/N 301-0225, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-301 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-301](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-301) (registry code 0390103) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 301-0225 - Engines: P&W R1340 SERIES 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: S & E Mader Inc - Registered owner: S & E Mader Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Departed: Garfield, WA - Destination: Garfield, WA - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 20,000 total, 10,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: KPUW ## Other investigations on N8878S (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 WPR15LA023](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR15LA023), Oct 27, 2014: Air Tractor AT 301 (N8878S), Basin City, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Maintenance personnel’s and the airplane owner’s failure to inspect the engine for cracks in the cylinders as required by an airworthiness directive, which resulted in the loss of engine power during… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 16, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76548. 21 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - Telephone (item 1, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40334340&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Telephone-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.