On August 26, 1982, an Air Tractor AT-301 (registration N4342S) operated by Holcomb Flying Service was involved in an aviation accident near Winnesboro, LA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The engine failure during the initial phase of the agricultural operation, which led to a forced landing and subsequent fire due to fuel leakage. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An agricultural airplane suffered an in-flight engine failure while circling for a crop dusting run. The pilot executed a forced landing, but the aircraft subsequently caught fire and was completely destroyed.
What happened
The pilot was operating an agricultural aircraft when the engine failed while he was circling the field to align for his initial swath run. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane nosed over upon impact with the ground. The pilot exited the aircraft immediately after the stop without turning off any of the electrical switches or fuel controls.
After exiting the plane, the pilot noted that fuel was leaking from the airframe. He left the scene to seek medical attention at a hospital. Upon his return to the site later, he discovered that the leaking fuel had ignited, causing the aircraft to catch fire and burn completely.
Probable cause
The engine failure during the initial phase of the agricultural operation, which led to a forced landing and subsequent fire due to fuel leakage.