Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Conrad, Montana, June 9, 1983
On June 9, 1983 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-301, registered N23069, was substantially damaged in an accident near Conrad, 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 9, 1983 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Conrad, 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
- N23069 · registry record · serial 301-0350
- 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 ACFT LANDED HARD AND COLLAPSED THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER FUEL EXHAUSTION. DURING A LANDING TO RELOAD THE PILOT HAD HANDLED THE HERBICIDE ON-LOADING AND A GROUND CREWMAN WAS LOADING THE ACFT FUEL. THE SUPPLY OF 80/87 OCTANE FUEL WAS EXHAUSTED BUT THERE WAS 100 OCTANE AVAILABLE. THE PILOT WAS TOLD ABOUT THE FUEL SUPPLY BUT HE MADE NO REPLY AS HE WAS BUSY LOADING HERBICIDE. THE REFUELING WAS NOT COMPLETED. ABOUT AN HOUR AFTER TAKEOFF THE ENGINE CEASED OPERATION DURING A PULL-UP MANEUVER. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE PILOTS FATHER DRAINED ABOUT 1 CUP OF FUEL FROMEACH FUEL TANK. THE PILOT STATED HE SHOULD HAVE TOPPED OFF WITH FUEL.
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: 901 hours in all; 343 in this make and model; 115 in the last 90 days; 701 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 435 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 5, 1983; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S01 Conrad MT
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 17 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:56 pm from CTB, 32 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.
Other NTSB records under N23069 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.