Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Hollandale, Minnesota, July 18, 1987
On July 18, 1987 at about 1:45 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-301, registered N3652N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hollandale, Minnesota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. 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
- July 18, 1987 · about 1:45 pm local time
- Place
- Hollandale, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Registration
- N3652N · registry record · serial 301-0268
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER MAKING A SWATH RUN THE AIRCRAFT PULLED UP TO CLEAR POWER LINES. WITNESSES STATE THAT THE ENGINE CUT OUT AND AIRCRAFT PITCHED NOSE DOWN AND BEGAN TO ROTATE. THEY STATE THAT THE ENGINE REGAINED POWER JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION FAILED TO REVEAL ANY MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES THAT WOULD HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. CONDITIONS WERE NOT CONDUCIVE TO CARB ICE AND FUEL WAS FOUND AT THE SITE IN THE LINES LEADING TO THE ENGINE.
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; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,774 hours in all; 7 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 7 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,657 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 17, 1987; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Air AG, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: AEL Albert Lea MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 19 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from RST, 26 miles away
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.