Air Tractor AT-400 accident near Oak Ridge, Louisiana, August 23, 1985
On August 23, 1985 at about 7:25 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-400, registered N3656N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Oak Ridge, 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 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
- August 23, 1985 · about 7:25 pm local time
- Place
- Oak Ridge, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-400
- Registration
- N3656N · no longer on the register · serial 400-0287
- 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 PLT STATED THE ACFT 'SAGGED' (SETTLED) DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION MANEUVER AND HE LEVELED THE WINGS TO LET IT RECOVER. HOWEVER, HE DID NOT ADD POWER, FLAPS, OR DUMP THE LOAD OF ALMOST 300 GALLONS OF SPRAY MATERIAL HE WAS CARRYING SINCE HE THOUGHT IT WOULD REGAIN ITS LIFT IN A MOMENT. THE CONDITION DETERIORATED EVEN FURTHER UNTIL IMPACT WITH THE GROUND OCCURRED.
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: 6,300 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 348 in the last 90 days; 6,250 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,253 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 1985; 145 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-15 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 225° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 90°F (32°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.