Air Tractor AT301A accident near Solomon, Kansas, May 12, 1993
On May 12, 1993 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT301A, registered N3162A, was substantially damaged in an accident near Solomon, Kansas (Private airport). It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S SELECTION OF UNSUITABLE TERRAIN ON WHICH TO TAKEOFF AND HIS DELAY IN ABORTING THE TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 1993 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Solomon, Kansas · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT301A
- Registration
- N3162A · no longer on the register · serial 301-0524
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE SOD AIRSTRIP AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF RAIN. THE AIRPLANE DID NOT BECOME AIRBORNE DURING THE GROUND RUN AND THE PILOT PULLED BACK THE POWER TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED OFF THE END OF THE AIRSTRIP WHERE IT CONTACTED A DITCH AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT STATED HE KNEW THE AIRSTRIP WAS WET AND SOFT, AND THAT WAS WHY HE DID NOT ATTEMPT TO TAKEOFF WITH A LOAD OF CHEMICALS.
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,890 hours in all; 573 in this make and model; 55 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Skytractor, INC.
The flight
- Destination: 47K Moundridge KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 2,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.