Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

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.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

July 21, 2010 · Air Tractor AT-401 · N45297

Toulin, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
July 21, 2010
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Toulin, IL
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-401
Tail Number
N45297
Operator
Robert N Morgan
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN10LA420

The pilot reported that he had made his last agricultural spray run. The airplane was about 200 feet above ground level when one of the engine's cylinders cracked resulting in oil covering the windshield. The pilot flew to a satellite airstrip about 5 miles away. The pilot reported that the airstrip was short and his visibility was reduced due to the oil-covered windshield. The airplane overran the runway and nosed over when it collided with a ditch. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that the number two cylinder of the engine had a crack located near the front spark plug and stretching to the rear spark plug. The Federal Aviation Administration had previously issued an Airworthiness Directive (AD) addressing the accident engine model. The AD required initial and repetitive visual and fluorescent penetration inspections of cylinders for cracking. This document was prompted by reports of cylinder head cracking which can result in the loss of engine power. The airplane’s logbooks indicated that 18 hours of time in service had elapsed since the last visual inspection of the cylinder per the AD requirements.

NTSB Probable Cause

A partial loss of engine power as a result of a cracked cylinder and the reduced visibility due to the oil-covered windshield.

Full Narrative

On July 21, 2010, at 1300 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401, N45297, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing to a cornfield after a loss of engine power near Toulon, Illinois. The commercial pilot was not injured. The 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural spraying flight departed Walnut, Illinois, about 1230 on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he had made his last spray run and pulled out of the field. The airplane was about 200 feet above ground level when “the cylinder cracked” and oil covered the windshield. The pilot flew to the satellite airstrip about 4 – 6 miles away. The pilot reported that the airstrip was short, and because he could not see very well out of the oil covered windshield, the airplane overran the runway and nosed over when it hit a ditch. The inspection of the airplane revealed that the airframe behind the cockpit was bent. The # 2 cylinder of the engine had a crack from the area near the front spark plug to the rear spark plug. On July 19, 1999, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) 99-11-02, for Pratt and Whitney R-1340 series reciprocating engines. The AD required initial and repetitive visual and florescent penetration inspections of cylinders for head cracking. This was prompted by reports of cylinder head cracking which can result in engine power loss, forced landing, and damage to the aircraft. For cowled and baffled installations, the AD required that a visual inspection of the cylinders be accomplished at intervals not to exceed 250 hours time in service since the last inspection. For all other installations, the AD required that a visual inspection of the cylinders was to be accomplished at intervals not to exceed 100 hours time in service since the last inspection. A FAA inspector examined the airplane’s logbooks and reported that 18 hours of time in service had elapsed since the last inspection of the cylinder per AD 99-11-02.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:00 CDT
Nearest Airport0nm
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-401
Tail NumberN45297
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorRobert N Morgan
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsP&W · R1340 SERIES · Reciprocating · 600
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 48 · Second Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data