Air Tractor AT-501 accident near Mooreland, Oklahoma, May 14, 1992
On May 14, 1992 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-501, registered N1006T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mooreland, Oklahoma. 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 FAILURE OF THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE ENSUING FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 1992 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Mooreland, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-501
- Registration
- N1006T · registry record · serial 501-0030
- 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 PILOT STATED THAT THE ENGINE BACKFIRED SEVERAL TIMES AND LOST POWER AS HE WAS COMPLETING A TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION AND LINING UP FOR A SWATH RUN. HE DUMPED THE CHEMICAL LOAD AND APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, MIXTURE, AND PROPELLER, BUT THE ACTIONS DID NOT ALLEVIATE THE POWER LOSS. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON A NEARBY RIDGE LINE. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES AND ROUGH TERRAIN AND NOSED DOWN. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE NUMBER 2 CYLINDER HAD FAILED FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE OPERATOR REPORTED THIS WAS THE FOURTH CYLINDER FAILURE THAT HE HAD EXPERIENCED ON THIS ENGINE SINCE A MAJOR OVERHAUL 710 HOURS PRIOR TO 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: 7,935 hours in all; 58 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 7,935 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 1992; 60 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-S3 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: WWR Woodward OK at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°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 N1006T 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.