Air Tractor AT-302 accident near Lacompte, Louisiana, September 13, 2002
On September 13, 2002 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-302, registered N8843S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lacompte, Louisiana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reason. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available to the pilot for the forced landing, and low altitude maneuvering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 13, 2002 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Lacompte, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-302
- Registration
- N8843S · registry record · serial 302-0213
- 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 10,150-hour pilot reported that "while making a spray run to the east, [he] pulled up at the end of the field over a tree line at about a 50 to 60 degree climb angle when the engine completely powered down or quit without any warning." The pilot further reported he estimated his altitude to be 60 to 80 feet above the ground when the engine lost power so he immediately banked the airplane to the right in an attempt to land in an adjacent small pasture. Ground scars and evaluation of the damage sustained by the airplane were consistent with the airplane impacting the ground in a shallow right turn at a high rate of descent. Fuel was found in fuel system and there was no post-impact fire. The operator reported that the loss of engine power may have been caused by "fuel cavitations;" however, the reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined.
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; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: April 15, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,888.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 25, 2002; 80 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,300 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Allied Signal TPE-331-1-151 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: M & J Flying Service LLC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Plaucheville LA at 10:30 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from AEX, 13 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.