Air Tractor AT-301B accident near Monticello, Iowa, August 13, 2008
On August 13, 2008 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-301B, registered N3161D, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Monticello, Iowa. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Poor preflight planning in that the pilot failed to assure an adequate fuel supply was on board for the flight which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Factors associated with the accident were the low altitude of the airplane when the loss of power occurred and the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 13, 2008 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Monticello, Iowa · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-301B
- Registration
- N3161D · no longer on the register · serial 301-0483
- 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 reported he completed the aerial application portion of the flight and was returning to the airport when the engine suddenly lost power. He stated he was at an altitude of about 200 feet above the ground and had no option but to land the airplane in the trees. The pilot reported he had approximately 75 gallons of fuel on board when he took off. The pilot stated the airplane typically consumed approximately 40 gallons per hour. The pilot reported to a police sergeant that he believed the airplane ran out of fuel. Inspection of the accident site revealed the fuel tanks were ruptured and empty. First responders to the accident site reported there was no odor of fuel having leaked from the airplane.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during approach
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Inspection › Preflight inspection › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Inadequate inspection
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,681 hours in all; 373 in this make and model; 373 in the last 90 days; 252 in the last 30 days; 3,586 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MXO Monticello IA
- Destination: MXO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from DBQ
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.