Air Tractor AT-401-B accident near Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, April 22, 2000
On April 22, 2000 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-401-B, registered N6096P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lawrenceburg, Tennessee (Lawrence County Airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to a stuck exhaust valve that resulted in the collision with a tree while maneuvering for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2000 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lawrenceburg, Tennessee · Lawrence County Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-401-B
- Registration
- N6096P · no longer on the register · serial 0999
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, while on an aerial application run, he heard a loud pop and observed black smoke coming from the engine exhaust. The pilot selected an area for a forced landing. While maneuvering for the landing, the airplane collided with trees. Examination of the engine disclosed that, the number 3 cylinder's exhaust valve was stuck in the open position
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,120 hours in all; 1,315 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 3,984 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 35, 4,800 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:00 pm from BNA, 75 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N6096P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.