On August 1, 1994, an Air Tractor AT-301 (registration N23358) was involved in an aviation accident near Hunter, AR. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: INADVERTENT STALL DUE TO PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED. A FACTOR WAS THE PILOT'S OVER CONFIDENCE IN HIS PERSONAL ABILITY. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An agricultural aircraft crashed into a rice field during a climbing turn-around maneuver at approximately 50 feet above the ground.
What happened
While flying at an altitude of approximately 50 feet above the ground, the pilot deactivated the spraying nozzles and began a climbing turn-around maneuver. During this maneuver, obstructions prevented witnesses from seeing the aircraft before it impacted the ground. The aircraft came to rest in a vertical position, with the engine and the airplane hopper buried in 2 1/2 feet of mud and water within a rice field.
Findings
The pilot held a commercial certificate that was issued on May 18, 1994, and possessed training in aerial application. According to personnel from the pilot's school, instructors had previously cautioned the pilot on multiple occasions regarding the need to perform a slow pull-up during turn-around maneuvers and to maintain respect for the aircraft's limitations. Additionally, associates of the pilot reported observing him performing steep turn-around maneuvers on numerous occasions.