NTSB Factual Report

On August 28, 2001, at 1610 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-401, N91922, registered to Cole and Turman Flying Service of Batesville, Mississippi, collided with trees and the ground then caught fire after a loss of engine power during an aerial application of pesticides to a field in Batesville, Mississippi. The agricultural flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed, and the commercial pilot received minor injuries. The flight had departed Panola County Airport in Batesville, Mississippi, at 1500.

While conducting an aerial application of pesticides to a field, the pilot initiated a climb after departing a spray swath. During the climb, the airplane lost engine power, and the pilot established a glide and turned left toward a hay field. The pilot stated, "At the point where the engine failed, I didn't see any way to make an off airport landing without hitting trees or unsuitable terrain." The pilot stated, "I tried switching the magneto selector to each left and right position with no change in power and pumped the manual fuel pump (wobble pump) which also resulted in no change. It was at this point that the plane contacted trees along the creek bank that runs North and South." After colliding with the trees, the airplane came to rest in a flat attitude in the adjacent field and caught fire. The pilot saw flames immediately on the sides of the fuselage and exited the left side of the airplane.

The airplane had departed Panola County Airport with a full oil reservoir (eight gallons), 126 gallons of 100LL fuel, and 50 gallons of a 95% malathion solution (pesticide). The pilot estimated that, at the time of the accident, the airplane held 7.5 gallons of oil, 80 gallons of fuel, and 36 gallons of pesticide. The pilot had checked the engine instruments before spraying the last swath of field and said the oil pressure and engine temperature appeared normal.

Examination of the wreckage revealed burn-pattern evidence in the header tank, wing tanks, and pesticide hopper consistent with the presence of both fuel and pesticide at the time of ignition. Aluminum components were found melted. Two cylinders, the magnetos, and the carburetor were also fire damaged. Extensive fire damage prevented a functional examination of the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause

The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for an emergency landing.