Air Tractor AT-301 N315PF

Summary

On 16 June 1995 at about 13:35 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N315PF was involved in an accident near Guymon, Oklahoma, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 June 1995 at 13:35

Classification

Accident

Location

Guymon, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

36.6801, -101.4806

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N315PF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW95LA247

Nobody was injured.

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WAS A FACTOR.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE AERIAL APPLICATION PILOT DEPARTED HIS HOME BASE WITH A LOAD OF 305 GALLONS OF SOLUTION. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT 'IT WAS IMMEDIATELY APPARENT THAT MORE POWER WAS REQUIRED TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS PERFORMING POORLY.' WHILE LINING UP FOR THE FIRST SWATH RUN, 'THE AIRSPEED DROPPED TO 75 MPH AND A SINK RATE STARTED THAT I COULDN'T STOP EVEN WITH FULL POWER AND QUARTER FLAPS.' THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING GEAR STRUCK A FIVE STRAND BARBED WIRE FENCE AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE GROUND SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGING THE WING, LANDING GEAR, FUSELAGE, AND ENGINE MOUNT. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS ABOUT 5,100 FEET.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.