Air Tractor AT-301 N3653W
2 July 1990 · Mission, Texas, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 2 July 1990 at about 19:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N3653W, operated by Putz Aero, Inc, was involved in an accident near Mission, Texas, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Mission, Texas, United States
- Coordinates
- 26.2099, -98.3108
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Registration
- N3653W
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Putz Aero, Inc
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- FTW90DRG04
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE ABOVE THE CROPS HE WAS SPRAYING. A FACTOR WAS THE TREE INDUCED MECHANICAL TURBULENCE ENCOUNTERED DURING THE DESCENDING TURN.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
AFTER SPRAYING THE FIELD THE PILOT WAS 'CLEANING UP THE END' AND WAS FLYING ON THE LEE SIDE OF TREES WHEN HE FELT THE LEFT WING DROP. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, EITHER THE LANDING GEAR OR THE LEFT WING CAUGHT IN THE 3 1/2 FOOT TALL GRAIN, AND HE WAS UNABLE TO RAISE THE WING. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST ABOUT 165 YARDS AFTER INITAIL TERRAIN IMPACT. THE PILOT FELT THAT HE ENCOUNTERED MECHANICAL TURBULENCE, CAUSING THE INITIAL LOSS OF CONTROL.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Air Tractor AT-301 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Aug 1990 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Corning, Arkansas, United States | REX & Tommy Harmon | Serious injuries | - |
| 6 Mar 1990 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Rolling Fork, Mississippi, United States | Nicks Flying Service, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 15 Jun 1990 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Ulysses, Kansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Oct 1989 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Belle Glade, Florida, United States | Air Crop Care Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jun 1989 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Americus, Georgia, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 13 May 1991 | Air Tractor AT-301 | Tutwiler, Mississippi, United States | Flying Y Aero, Inc. | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 Mar 1990 | Bell 206B | Pearland, Texas, United States | Houston Helicopter, Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 17 Mar 1990 | Cessna 172G | Rio Hondo, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Mar 1990 | Beechcraft 100 | Uvalde, Texas, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 3 Apr 1990 | Hughes H500C | Houston, Texas, United States | Mark R. Lancaster | No injuries | - |
| 15 Apr 1990 | Hughes 369HS | Junction, Texas, United States | Neveri, Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 16 Apr 1990 | Cessna 152 | Albany, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |