Air Tractor INC AT-401B accident near Holyoke, Colorado, June 15, 2023
On June 15, 2023 at about 2:45 pm local time, a 1995 Air Tractor INC AT-401B, registered N6106U, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Holyoke, Colorado (Holyoke airport). It was an instructional 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 2023 · about 2:45 pm local time · cases in 2023
- Place
- Holyoke, Colorado · Holyoke · cases near this airport · 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-401B, built 1995 · all AT-401Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6106U · registry record · serial 401B-0976
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator reported that, while landing during a solo instructional flight, the airplane touched down in a three-point attitude and veered left during the roll out. The airplane ground looped to the left and exited the left side of the runway. During the ground loop, the right wing struck the ground. The airplane came to rest about 25 ft from the edge of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The operator reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane 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 control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 385 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 39 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 321 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 15, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,063.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 2023
- Maximum gross weight: 7,680 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 (piston); 10,643 hours total
- Operator: Steggs Flying Service, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: HEQ Holyoke CO at 2:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,400 ft
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 am from KHEQ
Weather report (METAR): KHEQ 151455Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM -RA SCT014 SCT024 SCT032 19/13 A2984 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Accident airplane on side of runway
Photograph 2 – Right hand wing substantial damage
Photograph 3 – Damaged landing gearThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on September 28, 2023. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N6106U the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N6106U on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Air Tractor Inc AT-401 68 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN1 64 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Holyoke Airport · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Colorado 2,860 since 1982 · 383 in the last ten years
- Colorado 7,486 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N6106U 2 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN23LA241.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.