Air Tractor AT-401 N4537L

Summary

On 21 June 1995 at about 16:25 local time, a Air Tractor AT-401 registered N4537L was involved in an accident near Hearne, Texas, 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

21 June 1995 at 16:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Hearne, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.8707, -96.5891

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-401

Registration

N4537L

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

FTW95LA256

Nobody was injured.

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER. FACTORS WERE THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE FORCED LANDING AND THE PILOT'S RESTRICTED VISION DUE TO OIL ON THE WINDSHIELD.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF CLIMB FROM AN AGRICULTURAL AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT'S VISION WAS RESTRICTED BY THE OIL COVERING THE WINDSHIELD. ACCORDING TO THE OPERATOR, DURING THE FORCED LANDING TO A COTTON FIELD, THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD AND CONTROL WAS LOST. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE BY THE OPERATOR REVEALED THAT THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER WAS THE RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.