Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Halstad, Minnesota, July 28, 1994
On July 28, 1994 at about 12:00 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-301, registered N3611Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near Halstad, Minnesota (Wiese Airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the commercial pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain during the attempted takeoff. Related factors are the soft terrain and the deterioration in aircraft performance due to the high gross weight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1994 · about 12:00 pm local time
- Place
- Halstad, Minnesota · Wiese Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Registration
- N3611Z · no longer on the register · serial 301-0341
- 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 COMMERCIAL PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF ON A SOFT GRASS AIRSTRIP, LOADED WITH 2,720 POUNDS OF CHEMICALS FOR AERIAL APPLICATION. THE PILOT STATED THE AIRPLANE LIFTED OFF, BUT THE TAILWHEEL STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT. THE AIRPLANE PITCHED NOSE DOWN ON REBOUND FROM THE TAIL STRIKE, AND CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN IN A FIELD. THE AIRPLANE MANUAL RECOMMENDS A MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT OF 5,000 POUNDS. HOWEVER THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE WAS CERTIFICATED IN THE RESTRICTED CATEGORY, AND WAS OPERATING AT AN ESTIMATED 7,003 POUNDS.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,166 hours in all; 627 in this make and model; 410 in the last 90 days; 137 in the last 30 days; 4,717 as pilot in command; 87 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,882 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 6, 1994; 400 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 12:00 pm
- Destination: NONE MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,640 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from CKN, 30 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.