The pilot was performing aerial application of chemicals to a field near Simmesport, La., when the Air Tractor AT-301 began to settle during a low-altitude turn.
The settling was consistent with flight at a high angle-of-attack or high drag condition, and the airplane may have been near or at its stall speed.
The pilot was unable to recover from the descent, so he made an emergency landing during which the airplane hit an embankment, resulting in one serious and one minor injury.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the pilot’s failure to maintain proper airplane pitch control while maneuvering at an altitude that was too low for recovery.
NTSB Identification: CEN13LA472
This August 2013 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
