NTSB Factual Report

On July 2, 2007, at approximately 2030 central daylight time, a single-engine Air Tractor 301 agricultural airplane, N7305E, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while maneuvering near Lueders, Texas. The non-instrument rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. The airplane was registered to Agriflite Service, Inc., of Wakarusa, Indiana, and operated by Murphree Flying Service Inc., of Rotan, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 aerial application flight. The flight originated from the Fisher County Airport (56F), near Rotan/Roby, Texas, approximately 1938.

The operator reported that when the pilot failed to return as expected, a search for the missing aircraft was initiated. According to a local law enforcement officer, the wreckage was located in an open field approximately 3 miles north-east of Lueders, Texas, about 2330. Ground scars and signatures on the soft ground were consistent with a nose low ground impact. The airplane came to rest in an inverted position and no post impact fire ensued.

The pilot reported that during an aerial application flight, while executing the turn to reverse direction "the airplane stalled" from an altitude of 175 feet above the ground and impacted the ground in a nose-low attitude. When asked in the NTSB 6120.1 accident form "How could this accident have been prevented?" the pilot responded, "Do not stall heavy aircraft near the ground." The pilot further reported that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane.

The radial engine powered airplane, which was not equipped with an ELT, was reported to have accumulated a total of 7,370 hours.

The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. The pilot's most recent FAA second-class medical certificate was issued June 5, 2007, and last flight review was completed on June 26, 2006. The 22-year old pilot reported having accumulated a total of 917 flight hours, with 98 flight hours in the same and model airplane.

The nearest weather recording station to the accident site was the Abilene Regional Airport (ABI), near Abilene, Texas, located 30 miles south of the accident site. At 2052, ABI was reporting wind from 090 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 miles, 9,000-foot ceiling, temperature 73 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 69 degrees Fahrenheit, with an altimeter setting of 30.04 inches of Mercury.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with terrain.