On June 21, 1990, an Air Tractor AT-401 (registration N4530N) operated by William M. Walters was involved in an aviation accident near Jerome, ID. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING TO REVERSE DIRECTION. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
During an aerial application flight, the pilot retracted flaps at a low altitude, causing the airplane to settle and collide with a drainage embankment. No mechanical failures were reported.
Accident Overview
During an aerial application flight, the pilot had completed one pass over the field. A turn to reverse direction was made with partial flaps extended. The pilot then retracted the flaps at a low altitude, and the airplane settled. As it settled, the airplane collided into a drainage embankment.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane at the time of the accident.
Sequence of Events
The flight involved an aerial application operation over a field. After one pass, the pilot initiated a turn to reverse direction while the flaps were partially extended. At a low altitude, the pilot retracted the flaps. Subsequently, the airplane began to settle and descended until it struck a drainage embankment.