Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Corning, Arkansas, August 14, 1990
On August 14, 1990 at about 4:45 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-301, registered N4433S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Corning, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
BLOCKAGE OF THE CARBURETOR AIR INTAKE BY A COLLAPSED AIR INDUCTION HOSE DUE TO IMPROPER MAINTENANCE BY AN UNKNOWN PARTY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 14, 1990 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Corning, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Registration
- N4433S · no longer on the register · serial 301-0093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A TOTAL POWER LOSS OCCURRED SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND THE PILOT PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING IN A MUDDY RICE/BEAN FIELD. AFTER LANDING THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED ONCE AND NOSED OVER. FAA INSPECTORS FOUND THAT THE AIR INDUCTION HOSE WAS COLLAPSED AND THAT A 60 DEGREE ALUMINUM ELBOW WAS LOOSE FROM ITS CLAMPS, BLOCKING THE AIR ENTRANCE TO THE CARBURETOR. THE OPERATOR SUBSEQUENTLY TEST RUN THE ENGINE FINDING NO ADDITIONAL DISCREPANCIES.
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: 13,000 hours in all; 605 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 21, 1990; 144 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340-S3H1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:05 pm from JBR, 40 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.