Air Tractor AT-401 accident near Cash, Arkansas, July 11, 1995
On July 11, 1995 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-401, registered N1004W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cash, Arkansas. 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
ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO PARTIAL FAILURE OF ONE MAGNETO COMBINED WITH TOTAL FAILURE OF THE OTHER MAGNETO. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 1995 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Cash, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Registration
- N1004W · no longer on the register · serial 401-0687
- 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 AIRPLANE WAS EN ROUTE TO FERTILIZE A FIELD WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND BEGAN 'BACKFIRING, MISSING AND SMOKING.' THE PILOT DUMPED HIS LOAD AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE DEPARTURE AIRSTRIP. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER AND THE PILOT WAS FORCED TO LAND IN A BEAN FIELD. THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. MAGNETO TESTING REVEALED ONE MAGNETO WAS NOT FIRING DUE TO INTERNAL DRIVE GEAR FAILURE AND THE OTHER MAGNETO WAS MISFIRING DUE TO A 'WIDE' POINT GAP CLEARANCE.
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: 361 hours in all; 108 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 106 in the last 30 days; 296 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,225 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 31, 1995; 44 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN-1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 4:35 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°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 N1004W 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.