Air Tractor AT-401 accident near Tule Lake, California, August 4, 1990
On August 4, 1990 at about 3:40 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-401, registered N45116, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tule Lake, California. 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
AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 4, 1990 · about 3:40 pm local time · cases in 1990
- Place
- Tule Lake, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Registration
- N45116 · registry record · serial 401-0752
- 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 ENGINE QUIT WHEN THE PILOT PULLED UP TO MAKE ANOTHER SPRAY RUN. THE PILOT LANDED IN A FIELD AND COLLIDED WITH A 12 INCH WATER LINE. THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE AIRCRAFT NOSED OVER. EXAMINATION FOUND THE RIGHT MAGNETO MISSING APPROXIMATELY 50 PERCENT OF THE TEETH FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR GEAR.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,187 hours in all; 260 in this make and model; 260 in the last 90 days; 145 in the last 30 days; 6,187 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 301 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, April 12, 1990; 301 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Macys Flying Service INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N45116 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: P&W R1340 AN1 64 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in California 9,080 since 1982 · 1,096 in the last ten years
- California 28,112 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/LAX90DXQ03.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.