Accident Details
On August 4, 2013, at approximately 0920 central daylight time, an Air Tractor Inc AT-301, registration N3655G, impacted terrain during an aerial application flight near Simmesport, Louisiana. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to a wing. The commercial pilot suffered minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by Pro-Air LLC under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as an aerial application flight that was not operating on a flight plan. The flight originated from a private airstrip (5LA1) near Hamburg, Louisiana, about 0855.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, the airplane settled while turning over a field that was being sprayed. He was unable to recover from the descent and opted to land the airplane straight ahead along its flight path. During this landing, the aircraft impacted a railroad embankment.
Pilot Recommendations
The pilot offered that the accident could have been prevented by making a wider turn and by deploying flaps when the airplane began to settle.