Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Mission, Texas, November 8, 1984
On November 8, 1984 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-301, registered N8523S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mission, Texas. 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
- November 8, 1984 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Mission, Texas · 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
- N8523S · no longer on the register · serial 301-0135
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER A LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE THE ACFT WAS LANDED DOWNWIND. DURING THE PRECAUTIONARY LANDING ACROSS PLOWED FURROWS, THE RT WING CAUGHT IN THE SUGAR CANE CROP AND THE ACFT TURNED TO THE RT, COLLAPSING THE LEFT LANDING GEAR AND DAMAGING THE LEFT WING. THE PLTS ATTENTION WAS CAUGHT BY THE SMELL OF HOT OIL DURING THE FLT. THE PLT LATER TOLD FAA INSPECTORS THAT AN OIL RETURN LINE HAD RUPTURED AND HE LANDED TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. EXAMINATION REVEALED THAT THE RUBBER OIL LINE (HOSE) HAD BEEN SUBJECTED TO HIGH TEMPERATURES; RUDDER INSIDE THE WOVEN STEEL CASING WAS BRITTLE. THE LAST 100 HR INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED 3 FLT HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT.
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
- Flight time: 6,670 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 6,670 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,400 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 ANI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Pharr TX at 3:15 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
Other NTSB records under N8523S 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.