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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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June 9, 1983 · Air Tractor AT-400A · N31619

Lane City, TX

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 9, 1983
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Lane City, TX
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-400A
Tail Number
N31619
Operator
Shanks Flying Service
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW83FA270

THE PLT WAS LEADING A FLT OF 2 ACFT ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION MISSION. THE PLT OF THE 2ND ACFT STATED THAT AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN, THE LEAD ACFT PULLED UP TO AN ALMOST VERTICAL ATTITUDE & TO AN ALT OF BETWEEN 300 & 400 FT AGL. AT THAT TIME, THE PLANE STALLED & CONTINUED OVER ONTO ITS BACK, THEN ENTERED AN INVERTED SPIN. REPORTEDLY, THE SPIN CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 TURNS UNTIL THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, SLIGHTLY INVERTED, ATTITUDE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT WAS HIGHLY QUALIFIED IN AG OPERATIONS, BUT HAD ONLY RECENTLY STARTED FLYING TURBINED POWER ACFT. REPORTEDLY, HE HAD RECEIVED NO FORMAL TRAINING IN THIS MODEL OF THE ACFT NOR IN THE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF TURBINE ENGS. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE WAS MADE, BUT NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

Full Narrative

THE PLT WAS LEADING A FLT OF 2 ACFT ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION MISSION. THE PLT OF THE 2ND ACFT STATED THAT AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN, THE LEAD ACFT PULLED UP TO AN ALMOST VERTICAL ATTITUDE & TO AN ALT OF BETWEEN 300 & 400 FT AGL. AT THAT TIME, THE PLANE STALLED & CONTINUED OVER ONTO ITS BACK, THEN ENTERED AN INVERTED SPIN. REPORTEDLY, THE SPIN CONTINUED FOR ABOUT 1 1/2 TURNS UNTIL THE ACFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN, SLIGHTLY INVERTED, ATTITUDE. AN INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PLT WAS HIGHLY QUALIFIED IN AG OPERATIONS, BUT HAD ONLY RECENTLY STARTED FLYING TURBINED POWER ACFT. REPORTEDLY, HE HAD RECEIVED NO FORMAL TRAINING IN THIS MODEL OF THE ACFT NOR IN THE OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS OF TURBINE ENGS. AN EXAM OF THE WRECKAGE WAS MADE, BUT NO PREIMPACT, MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION WAS FOUND.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:20 CDT
Nearest Airport1nm N
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-400A
Tail NumberN31619
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorShanks Flying Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsP&W · PT6A-20 · Turboprop · 550
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 39 · Unknown

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 8 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point61 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time21:47
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data