Air Tractor AT301 accident near Lawton, North Dakota, June 29, 1994
On June 29, 1994 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT301, registered N4349S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lawton, North Dakota. 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 pilot's improper use of carburetor heat. The carburetor icing weather condition was a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 1994 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lawton, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT301
- Registration
- N4349S · no longer on the register · serial 301-0029
- 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 AERIAL APPLICATOR WAS IN A TURN TO ENTER A FIELD ON A SWATH RUN WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A NARROW ROAD AND STRUCK A PILE OF ROCKS DURING LANDING ROLL. NO ANOMALIES WERE FOUND WITH THE ENGINE WHEN EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR. THE TEMPERATURE/DEW POINT WERE 73/53. THESE VALUES ARE IN THE AREA CONDUCIVE TO CARBURETOR ICING. THE CARBURETOR HEAT WAS IN THE 'OFF' POSITION.
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: 875 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,193 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 1994; 147 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,565 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-S3H1G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Edmore ND at 8:30 pm
- Destination: NONE ND
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from GFK, 40 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.