Air Tractor INC AT-301 accident near D'Hanis, Texas, May 20, 2010
On May 20, 2010 at about 11:10 pm local time, a Air Tractor INC AT-301, registered N3159D, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near D'Hanis, Texas (Glasscock Field). 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 pilot's failure to properly set the airplane's flaps prior to takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 2010 · about 11:10 pm local time
- Place
- D'Hanis, Texas · Glasscock Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-301 · all AT-301s on the register
- Registration
- N3159D · no longer on the register · serial 301-0471
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While departing from his home field for an aerial application flight, the airplane was not able to get airborne and collided with several fences at the end of the runway. The pilot realized that he had left the flaps in the up position. Both wings sustained substantial rearward crushing. The pilot and operator reported no deficiencies with the airplane prior to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Runway excursion during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › (general) › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 450 hours in all; 105 in this make and model; 105 in the last 90 days; 105 in the last 30 days; 420 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 5, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,129 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 23, 2010
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE331-1-151A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4TS8 D'Hanis TX at 11:10 pm
- Destination: 4TS8 D'Hanis TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 15, 3,500 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,100 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from KHDO, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N3159D 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.