Air Tractor AT-400 accident near Huffman, TX
On July 2, 1996, an Air Tractor AT-400 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Huffman, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- July 2, 1996
- Place
- Huffman, TX
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-400 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 30.059°N, 95.091°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X06206
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On July 2, 1996, at 1030 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-400, N501JS, registered to and operated by Associated Aerial Applicators of Dayton, Texas, as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, impacted terrain following a loss of control near Huffman, Texas. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot began the local aerial application flights for the day about 1 hour 15 minutes prior to the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. During personal interviews, conducted by the investigator-in-charge, witnesses and operator personnel reported that the pilot was spraying the grain fields with fertilizer. Spray runs were being conducted in an east to west race track pattern. The reloading takeoff and landings were made to a private north to south dirt airstrip (Tricky Airstrip). Upon completing a spray run to the east, the airplane entered a right base turn to final for landing to the north. During the turn a witness observed the "the left wing" go down and "also the nose." The witness further stated that the engine was running and a post-impact engine fire started which was extinguished by a witness. The pilot was wearing a helmet; however chin straps were not on the helmet. PERSONNEL INFORMATION According to FAA records and a friend, the pilot's total flight time was 25,000 flight hours. The pilot was a licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic and performed the maintenance on his aircraft. The pilot's logbooks were not made available to t
Probable cause
corroded flight control components, due to the operator's inadequate maintenance and inspection of the airplane; the pilot's failure to follow procedures and directives, by flying the airplane without proper maintenance and annual inspection; and subsequent failure of a corroded flight control component.
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Browse: Texas · Air Tractor aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
