Air Tractor AT-401 accident near Rich, Mississippi, May 24, 1998
On May 24, 1998 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-401, registered N1008Y, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rich, Mississippi. 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
a loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, resulting in a forced landing and subsequent impact with rough terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 1998 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rich, Mississippi · 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
- N1008Y · no longer on the register · serial 401-0704
- 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 reported to the NTSB that while he was on an aerial application flight the airplane's engine 'failed...at a low level,' and he had to set down 'immediately.' He landed in a bean field. He said, '...the plane landed fine but the tailwheel broke off and the plane ground looped...the terrain was rough...but was flat.' According to the FAA, the pilot stated that was returning to the airstrip and was sight seeing, flying slow when he saw some power lines in front of him. He panicked and shoved the power up abruptly, the engine coughed and backfired and the aircraft mushed into the ground. Examination of the airplane disclosed no discrepancies with the airframe or the engine.
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: 800 hours in all; 25 in the last 90 days; 340 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,100 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 5, 1998; 86 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,800 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,200 ft; clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:40 pm from GWO, 50 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.