Air Tractor INC AT-301 accident near Simmesport, Louisiana, August 4, 2013
On August 4, 2013 at about 2:20 pm local time, a Air Tractor INC AT-301, registered N3655G, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Simmesport, Louisiana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain proper airplane pitch control while maneuvering at an altitude that was too low for recovery.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 2013 · about 2:20 pm local time
- Place
- Simmesport, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-301 · all AT-301s on the register
- Registration
- N3655G · no longer on the register · serial 301-0292
- 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 was performing aerial application of chemicals to a field when the airplane began to settle during a low-altitude turn. The settling was consistent with flight at a high angle-of-attack or high drag condition, and the airplane may have been near or at its stall speed. The pilot was unable to recover from the descent so he made an emergency landing during which the airplane impacted an embankment.
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 control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during uncontrolled descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Related operating info
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 589 hours in all; 349 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 537 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,981 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 7,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney R1340 (piston); 626 hours total
- Operator: Pro-Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 5LA1 Hamburg LA at 1:55 pm
- Destination: Simmesport LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from AEX, 50 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 N3655G the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN13LA472.