WIDENER, AR, USA
N3652D
AIR TRACTOR AT400
THE AERIAL APPLICATION PILOT LOST CONTROL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS WHILE MANEUVERING. EACH FLIGHT WAS TAKING APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES. WHEN THE AIRPLANE DID NOT RETURN AT ITS EXPECTED TIME OF RETURN, A CREW WAS DISPATCHED TO THE JOB SITE WHERE THE AIRCRAFT WAS FOUND INVERTED AND BURNING. THERE WERE NO WITNESSES TO THE ACCIDENT; HOWEVER, A PERSON SAW THE AIRPLANE MANEUVERING PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, AND SAW SMOKE AFTER THE AIRPLANE HAD IMPACTED THE TERRAIN. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE AND MAINTENANCE RECORDS DID NOT DISCLOSE ANY MAINTENANCE ANOMALIES. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST IN THE INITIAL IMPACT CRATER.
On February 27, 1994, at approximately 1510 central standard time, an Air Tractor AT400, N3652D, was destroyed following a loss of control while maneuvering near Widener, Arkansas. The commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed throughout the area for the aerial application flight. According to the pilot/operator report, each flight was taking approximately fifteen minutes and the aircraft was due back at 1500. When the aircraft did not return, a crew was dispatched to the job site. The aircraft was found inverted and burning. There was no physical evidence of the aircraft moving after impact. There were no witnesses to the accident; however, a witness saw the airplane maneuvering prior to the accident and saw smoke. Examination of the airplane and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)inspector at the accident site did not disclose any maintenance anomalies. Flight control continuity was established. A review of the airframe and engine records by the FAA inspector, did not reveal any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects. The autopsy was performed by the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, Little Rock, Arkansas. Toxicological findings were negative. The wreckage was released to the owner's representative at the accident site.
THE PILOT'S LOSS OF CONTROL FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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