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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

October 18, 2000 · Air Tractor AT-301 · N3165G

Littlefield, TX

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 18, 2000
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 fatality)
Location
Littlefield, TX
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-301
Tail Number
N3165G
Operator
Burkett Flying Service
Injuries
Fatal
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
FTW01LA011

The agricultural airplane was spraying a cotton field approximately 5 feet about the ground, when the right wing struck a guy wire extending out from a transmission line, which ran along the south edge of the field. This was the pilot's first pass on the field, and he was flying from west to east parallel to the transmission line and perpendicular to the guy wire. The guy wire extended into the cotton field and stabilized a pole. The wire struck about 4 feet in from the right wing tip and tore the end of the wing off. The airplane impacted the ground within 600 feet of the wire strike and a fire erupted.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain clearance with a guy wire while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.

Full Narrative

On October 18, 2000, at 1130 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-301 agricultural aircraft, N3165G, was destroyed after impacting wires and terrain while maneuvering near Littlefield, Texas. The aircraft was owned and operated by Burkett Flying Service of Sinton, Texas. The commercial pilot, sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local boll weevil eradication flight originated from the Littlefield Municipal Airport at an undetermined time. According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, the airplane was spraying a cotton field approximately 5 feet about the ground, when the right wing struck a guy wire extending out from a transmission line, which ran along the south edge of the field. This was the pilot's first pass of the field. He was flying from west to east parallel to the transmission line and perpendicular to the guy wire. The guy wire extended into the cotton field and stabilized a pole. The wire struck about 4 feet in from the right wing tip and tore the end of the wing off. The airplane impacted the ground within 600 feet of the wire strike and a fire ensued. The Lubbock County Medical Examiner's Office performed an autopsy on the pilot. There was no evidence found of any preexisting disease that could have contributed to the accident. Toxicological tests performed by the FAA's Toxicology and Accident Research Laboratory were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, alcohol, and drugs.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Runway0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireGrd
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-301
Tail NumberN3165G
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorBurkett Flying Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R-1340-AN1 · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 fatality)
Fatal1
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 75 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind180° @ 6 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourceWIT

Appendix: Source Data