Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Ruyard, Montana, June 2, 1982
On June 2, 1982 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-301, registered N4403S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Ruyard, Montana. 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 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
- June 2, 1982 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ruyard, Montana · 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
- N4403S · registry record · serial 301-0063
- 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 AIRCRAFT WAS REFUELED PRIOR TO TAKEOFF. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL UNTIL ABOUT 75 FT OFF THE RUNWAY WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT. DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE PLANE TOUCHED DOWN IN A 3-POINT ATTITUDE, BOUNCED, AND THEN HIT THE GROUND IN A NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE AND WENT OVER ON ITS BACK. THE PILOT ATTRIBUTED THE ENGINE STOPPAGE TO WATER IN THE FUEL SUPPLY. HE STATED THAT HE HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH WATER IN HIS FUEL STORAGE FACILITY DUE TO HEAVY RAINS.
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: 7,000 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 7,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,103 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 34 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: AG Air, INC.
The flight
- Departed from: Ruyard MT at 6:25 am
- Destination: Ruyard MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 122°F (50°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.