Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Anahuac, Texas, July 14, 1987
On July 14, 1987 at about 9:02 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-301, registered N36503, was substantially damaged in an accident near Anahuac, Texas. 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
- July 14, 1987 · about 9:02 pm local time
- Place
- Anahuac, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Registration
- N36503 · registry record · serial 301-0258
- 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 WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT ENCOUNTERED SOFT TERRAIN AND FLIPPED OVER DURING A FORCED LANDING. THE FORCED LANDING WAS EXECUTED FOLLOWING A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENG POWER DURING A SWATH RUN ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. THE CAUSE OF THE ENG FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED DURING THE INVESTIGATION. THE ENG HAD MADE A POPPING SOUND AND SMOKE HAD COME FROM THE AREA OF # 1 & 2 CYLINDERS. THE ACFT HAD A TOTAL TIME OF 1794 HOURS WITH 829 HOURS SINCE OVERHAUL. THE ACFT WRECKAGE WAS DISPOSED OF BEFORE AN ENG TEARDOWN WAS ACCOMPLISHED.
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: 8,700 hours in all; 3,000 in this make and model; 200 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,794 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 1987; 198 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-ANI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TOO Anahuac TX at 8:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.