On September 5, 1996, an Air Tractor 301 (registration N8563S) operated by Farm Air, Inc. was involved in an aviation accident near ST Clair, AL. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and uncontrolled descent to ground. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive; 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Witnesses observed an aircraft maneuvering before an engine power reduction, after which it descended nose-down and crashed. Impact occurred at relatively low speed with power to the propeller. Postcrash examination found no pre-crash failures.
Incident Overview
Witnesses reported observing an aircraft maneuvering in flight. Subsequently, they heard a reduction in engine power. The aircraft then descended in a nose-down attitude and impacted the ground.
Impact and Power Evidence
Evidence from the crash scene indicated that the aircraft struck the ground at a relatively low speed. However, there was evidence that power was being provided to the propeller at the time of impact.
Postcrash Examination
A postcrash examination was conducted on the aircraft structure, flight controls, engine, and propeller. The examination did not reveal any pre-crash failure or malfunction of these components.