Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Aplington, Iowa, August 14, 2003
On August 14, 2003 at about 10:05 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-301, registered N4339S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aplington, Iowa. 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 pilot not maintaining proper altitude/clearance from the wire during the aerial application flight. The factor to the accident was the power line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 2003 · about 10:05 pm local time
- Place
- Aplington, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Registration
- N4339S · no longer on the register · serial 301-0019
- 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 airplane impacted power lines and terrain during an aerial application flight. The pilot reported that subsequent to impacting power lines the airplane lost pitch control. The pilot stated the airplane "impacted the ground in a very nose-down attitude completely destroying the aircraft."
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,411 hours in all; 2,163 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 17 in the last 30 days; 6,215 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 10, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 1, 2002; 160 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340-ANI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4C7 Ackley IA at 9:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 9:54 pm from ALO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.