On May 28, 1996, an Air Tractor AT-401 (registration N1549D) was involved in an aviation accident near Lake Providence, LA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: failure of the pilot to maintain sufficient airspeed, while maneuvering (turning), which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain. The high gusty wind condition was a related factor. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An airplane returning from aerial seeding crashed into a field after a low pass and right turn. Witnesses reported nose-up attitude and overbanking. Engine sounded normal; no preimpact anomalies found.
Accident Details
An airplane, returning to its home base after aerial application of rice seed in the local area, crashed approximately 300 feet west of the south end of a runway. According to witnesses, the aircraft had made a low pass down the runway, then circled right to a northerly heading before turning back south. When the airplane was approximately abeam the midpoint of the runway, it entered another right turn. Witnesses reported that with the nose of the airplane up, it appeared to overbank and then descended straight into the ground. The engine sounded normal throughout the maneuver.
Examination Findings
An examination of the airplane and its engine did not reveal any preimpact structural or mechanical anomalies.
Weather Conditions
Witnesses reported winds from 225 degrees at 15 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The windsock was observed to be straight out. Thunderstorms were located approximately 1.5 miles south of the accident site.