Air Tractor AT-400 N2315Z

Summary

On 15 August 1995 at about 14:15 local time, a Air Tractor AT-400 registered N2315Z was involved in an accident near Hayti, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 August 1995 at 14:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Hayti, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

36.2300, -89.7392

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-400

Registration

N2315Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cooter → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI95LA278

1 person died.

the pilot inadvertently stalled the airplane. A factor was the reduced power setting.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION. THE WINGS WERE CRUSHED SYMMETRICALLY AT AN ANGLE CORRESPONDING TO A PITCH OF 90 DEGREES NOSE DOWN. THE PROPELLER RPM GAGE WAS TRAPPED AT 1900 RPM AND THE TORQUE GAGE WAS TRAPPED AT ABOUT 600 FOOT POUNDS. DURING A PERSONAL INTERVIEW A PILOT WHO HAD WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE ACCIDENT PILOT, REPORTED THAT THE ACCIDENT PILOT WOULD TYPICALLY FLY TO A SPRAYING SITE AT 600 TO 700 FEET. HE SAID THE ACCIDENT PILOT WOULD TYPICALLY RETARD THE ENGINE TORQUE TO ABOUT 600 FOOT POUNDS TO PREVENT EXCESSIVE AIRSPEED DURING THE DESCENT TO THE SITE AND WOULD SUBSEQUENTLY NEED TO ADD POWER DURING MANEUVERING.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.