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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

July 31, 1998 · Air Tractor AT-301 · N3659T

Mentha, MI

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 31, 1998
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Mentha, MI
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-301
Tail Number
N3659T
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI98LA290

The pilot of an aerial applicator airplane landed his airplane on a road that had an uneven surface and was covered with lose gravel. The road had mature corn growing along its edges. The pilot said his left wing tip struck the corn as the airplane touched down. Furrows in the gravel showed the airplane had turned about 45-degrees to the left shortly after touch down. The furrows continued into and through a ditch and into the corn where the airplane came to a stop.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's improper inflight decision to land the airplane on the gravel covered road with an uneven surface that had corn growing next to its edge. A factor in this accident was the pilot selecting an unsuitable landing area.

Full Narrative

On July 31, 1998, at 1500 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301, N3659T, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with mature corn and a ditch after it veered off a gravel road's left side shortly after touching down for landing. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight had departed the same gravel road near Mentha, Michigan, exact time unknown. The pilot said his airplane's left wingtip collided with mature corn growing next to the road he was landing on when the airplane touched down. The on-scene investigation revealed the road's surface was uneven and covered with about 1/4 to 1/2- inch of lose gravel with hard-packed dirt underneath. Furrows in the gravel showed the airplane had turned about 45-degrees to the left shortly after touch down. The furrows were made by the airplane's main landing gear tires. The furrows continued through the ditch and into the corn where the airplane came to rest. N3659T's right wing was bent upward about 10-degrees beyond its normal dihedral angle. The right main landing gear leg had been pushed in toward the center of the airplane's fuselage. The leading edges of both wings had multiple dents ranging between 2 and 4-inches deep.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time14:30 EDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-301
Tail NumberN3659T
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-1340AN1 · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 33 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data