Air Tractor AT-301 accident near Rhinebeck, New York, July 26, 2003
On July 26, 2003 at about 10:50 am local time, a Air Tractor AT-301, registered N23820, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rhinebeck, New York. 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
A loss of engine power due to a failure of the number eight cylinder.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 26, 2003 · about 10:50 am local time
- Place
- Rhinebeck, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-301
- Registration
- N23820 · no longer on the register · serial 301-0459
- 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 in cruise flight when the engine began to vibrate and lose power. The pilot not able to maintain altitude, and performed a forced landing to a field. The airplane was equipped with a Pratt and Whitney R1340 radial engine. Examination of the engine revealed that approximately 50 percent of the number eight cylinder head was separated from it's respective cylinder barrel. Review of maintenance records revealed that the engine had been operated for about 930 hours since it was overhauled and about 20 hours since it's most recent annual inspection. At the time of the annual inspection, a mechanic reported he examined the cylinders and did not detect any cracks.
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; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,070 hours in all; 930 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 3,643 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 28, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,471 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 2003; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,860 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R-1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1A1 Livingston NY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from POU, 24 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.