Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Morton, TX
On October 22, 2001, an Air Tractor AT-301 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Morton, TX. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 22, 2001
- Place
- Morton, TX
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-301 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 33.729°N, 102.734°W
- NTSB ID
- 20011023X02136
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 22, 2001, approximately 1400 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301 agricultural airplane, N4395S, struck the terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering near Morton, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by G.B. Aerial Applicators, Inc., at Plains, Texas, under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. The commercial pilot received fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postimpact fire. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight departed the Cochran County Airport, Morton, Texas, approximately 20 minutes prior to the accident. One witness, located in the field adjacent to the accident site, reported to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, that the airplane made two passes over the cotton field, and during the subsequent turn-around maneuver, at approximately 400 feet agl, the airplane "made a hard right turn near vertical, banked hard left turn, going down, hit the ground, and caught fire." This witness reported the wind from the southwest at 10-15 knots. In a written statement, one witness, reported that the airplane "came out of the field and made a hard right turn (to north) and then back to the left headed west in a circle motion back to the east." This witness described the initial pull up as "nearly a wing vertical turn." According to this witness, the wind was from the west-southwest at 15-25 knots and gusty. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airpl
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during an aerial application maneuver.
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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.
