Air Tractor INC AT-301A accident near Cheyenne Wells, Colorado, March 15, 2012
On March 15, 2012 at about 3:15 pm local time, a Air Tractor INC AT-301A, registered N7306C, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Cheyenne Wells, Colorado (Private 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 inadequate compensation for the wind conditions during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 15, 2012 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Cheyenne Wells, Colorado · Private 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-301A · all AT-301As on the register
- Registration
- N7306C · no longer on the register · serial 301-0606
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the departure roll from a dirt airstrip, the airplane encountered wind shear. The pilot was unable to get the airplane off the ground, and the airplane hit a fence post when it overran the end of the airstrip. The right wing was substantially damaged during the impact.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Takeoff distance › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 3,280 hours in all; 174 in this make and model; 130 in the last 90 days; 90 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: March 3, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,087 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 13, 2012
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Nickel D LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Cheyenne Wells CO at 3:15 pm
- Destination: Cheyenne Wells CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 5,000 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 14 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KITR
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.
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.