Air Tractor INC AT-301 accident near Bowling Green, Missouri, April 24, 2013
On April 24, 2013 at about 9:10 pm local time, a Air Tractor INC AT-301, registered N23416, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Bowling Green, Missouri (Bowling Green Municipal Airpor airport). It was an other work-use flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 failure of the engine supercharger's rear bearing, which resulted in the loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2013 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Bowling Green, Missouri · Bowling Green Municipal Airpor · 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
- N23416 · registry record · serial 301-0385
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Other work-use flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the engine lost power, and the pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a field 1/4 mile off the departure end of the runway. During the forced landing, the airplane nosed over in the mud. According to the pilot, before takeoff, the engine was washed down, inspected, and then started and run for 15 minutes at idle power. The engine power was then advanced to 31 inches of manifold pressure. All engine checks were normal, and the engine ran smoothly. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the rear bearing in the supercharger had failed. Additional damage consistent with the failure of the rear bearing was noted throughout the supercharger and engine. An examination of the airframe, systems, and remaining engine sections revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Turbocharging (recip only) › Turbocharger › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 18, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,865 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 15, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340-S3H1-6 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air Cover Crop Solutions LLC
The flight
- Departed from: H19 Bowling Green MO at 9:10 pm
- Destination: H19 Bowling Green MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from KPPQ, 26 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.
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.