Air Tractor AT-400A N3159G
26 March 2002 · Hastings, Florida, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 26 March 2002 at about 16:22 local time, a Air Tractor AT-400A registered N3159G was involved in an accident near Hastings, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously 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 16:22
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Hastings, Florida, United States
- Coordinates
- 29.6942, -81.4328
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-400A
- Registration
- N3159G
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Hastings → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ATL02LA066
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
Fatigue cracking in the most outboard splice bolt hole in the lower spar cap of the right wing. .
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
While spraying fungicide to a potato field the pilot heard a loud explosion in the vicinity of the wing center section. After the explosion he had no control of the airplane and the airplane impacted the ground separating the right wing. Examination of the wreckage found the right wing tip near the initial impact point. The path of the airplane's debris field was to the north with a turn towards the east. The airplane then impacted into an irrigation ditch 261 feet from the initial impact point. Further examination of the wreckage found portions of the right wing spar imbedded into the ground in a near vertical attitude. Examination of the section of the wing spar by the NTSB Materials Laboratory found fatigue cracking in the most outboard splice bolt hole in the lower spar cap of the right wing. Air Tractor reported that this was the first known instance of fatigue cracking or fracture on a modified lower spar cap. As a result of this investigation the FAA issued an airworthiness directive that requires operators to inspect the wing centerline splice joint for cracks.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Air Tractor AT-400A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Aug 2006 | Air Tractor AT-400A | Alliance, Nebraska, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Nov 1998 | Air Tractor AT-400A | Bunkie, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 11 Jun 1997 | Air Tractor AT-400A | Church Point, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 1997 | Air Tractor AT-400A | Black Oak, Arkansas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 16 Aug 2008 | Air Tractor AT-400A | Luverne, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 29 Jul 2013 | Air Tractor AT-400A | Lombardville, Illinois, United States | Woodley Craig S | Minor injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Nov 2002 | Cessna 182Q | Orlando, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 2002 | Agusta A119 | Okeechobee, Florida, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 20 Sep 2002 | Cessna 172P | Lutz, Florida, United States | Troy Mason Heidel | No injuries | - |
| 21 Sep 2002 | Beagle B-206 SERIES 2 | McAlpin, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 17 Jan 2002 | Mooney M20J | Lake Placid, Florida, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 15 Jun 2002 | Piper PA-46-310P | Osteen, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 3 |