Air Tractor AT-301 N3164E

Summary

On 6 August 2002 at about 19:30 local time, a Air Tractor AT-301 registered N3164E was involved in an accident near Memphis, Tennessee, 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.

Date

6 August 2002 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

President's Island

Coordinates

35.0458, -89.9781

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-301

Registration

N3164E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Covington → Presidents Is

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL02LA153

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's decision to make a precautionary landing to an unsuitable sod airstrip that resulted in a ground loop. A factor was tall vegetation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated he experienced a rough running engine and elected to make a precautionary landing to a grass strip. He stated that he could not tell the grass on the runway was tall. On landing roll, the pilot lost directional control and ground looped as the airplane collided with the six-foot tall grass. The main landing gear was spread, the tail wheel separated, and both wings collided with the ground. Examination of the airframe, flight controls, engine assembly and accessories revealed no evidence of a pre-crash mechanical failure or malfunction.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.