Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, July 26, 1995
On July 26, 1995 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-301, registered N3655Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Poplar Bluff, Missouri (Private Field). 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 inadequate preflight/planning preparation. Factors in the accident were: the loss of engine power due to carburetor icing, the wet runway, and the ditch.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 1995 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Poplar Bluff, Missouri · Private Field · 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
- N3655Q · no longer on the register · serial 301-0297
- 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 STATED THAT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL ON THE GRASS RUNWAY, THE AIRPLANE PARTIALLY LOST ENGINE POWER. HE ABORTED THE TAKEOFF, AND THE AIRPLANE SLID OFF THE END OF THE RUNWAY INTO A DITCH. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT IT HAD JUST STOPPED RAINING PRIOR TO HIS TAKEOFF, AND THE RUNWAY WAS WET. HE STATED THAT HE HAD NOT PERFORMED A CARBURETOR HEAT CHECK NOR A MAGNETO CHECK PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. POSTACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE FOUND NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES. THE REPORTED SURFACE TEMPERATURE IN THE AREA WAS 80 DEGREES, AND THE DEW POINT WAS 76 DEGREES. THESE TEMPERATURES FALL WITHIN THE SEVERE ICING RANGE ON A CARBURETOR ICING PROBABILITY CHART.
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
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 14, 1995
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 75°F (24°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.