Snow AT301 accident near Marianna, Arkansas, June 8, 1985
On June 8, 1985 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Snow AT301, registered N5078S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marianna, Arkansas. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 8, 1985 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marianna, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Snow AT301
- Registration
- N5078S · no longer on the register · serial AT301-0115
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
AFTER DEPARTING THE AG STRIP THE PLT RPTD A VIBRATING ENGINE WHICH SHOOK VIOLENTLY UNTIL FINALLY QUITTING. THE PLT RESPONDED WITH AN EMERGENCY LANDING ATTEMPT TO A PLOWED BEAN FIELD. THE ACFT IMPACTED THE SOFT TERRAIN AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED WHERE THE ACFT FLIPPED OVER INVERTED. THEACFT COMMENCED TO BURN AFTER IMPACT, WHICH TOTALLY CONSUMED THE ACFT STRUCTURE. INSPECTION OF THE ACFT ENGINE FOUND A BROKEN NUMBER ONE CYLINDER CONNECTION ROD.
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: 1,794 hours in all; 878 in this make and model; 117 in the last 90 days; 1,738 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 27, 1985
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340 AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 6M7 Marianna AR at 11:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:51 pm from MEM, 45 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.