Air Tractor INC AT-301 accident near Davenport, North Dakota, August 7, 2025
On August 7, 2025 at about 1:35 am local time, a 1981 Air Tractor INC AT-301, registered N23069, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Davenport, North Dakota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 7, 2025 · about 1:35 am local time
- Place
- Davenport, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-301, built 1981 · all AT-301s on the register
- Registration
- N23069 · registry record · serial 301-0350
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On August 6, 2025, at 2035 central daylight time, an Air Tractor Inc AT-301 airplane, N23069, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Davenport, North Dakota. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight. The pilot stated that the flight proceeded as expected, and he completed the aerial application successfully. During the return climb to approximately 500 ft above ground level, he noticed the left fuel tank was low and switched fuel gauge indications to the left fuel tank. Shortly afterwards, the low fuel light illuminated, and the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. He immediately actuated the wobble pump and attempted to restore fuel flow manually, but the engine did not respond. As the airplane began to lose altitude, he prepared for and performed a forced landing in a nearby cornfield. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage during the forced landing. The airplane was retained for further examination.
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 (total) during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,857.3 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 30, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 7,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: AG Spray INC
The flight
- Departed from: Moorehead MN
- Destination: Moorehead MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 2 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 76°F (24°C), dew point 62°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from NDAW, 11 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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N23069 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.