Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Las Animas, Colorado 81054
Thursday, June 19, 1997 8:05 MDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

There were no witnesses to the accident. The pilot was reported to have been almost finished spraying a 33 acre corn field with a herbicide called 'Lightning.' The airplane was found burning in a field that was on an approach and adjacent to the field being sprayed. The sheriff reported that the wind was calm. The pilot had been treated for Reiter's Syndrome for the previous 3 years. Reportedly, the condition was under control with prescribed medication. Toxicology tests disclosed no evidence of alcohol, drugs, cyanide, or carbon monoxide. About a week after the accident, the farmer reported finding two areas of stunted and discolored corn at opposite ends of his field. The NTSB was not made aware of this finding until four months after the accident. Soil sample tests disclosed a trace amount of oil and grease.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

in-flight collision with terrain, while maneuvering, for undetermined reason(s).

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/19/1997
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 805
Event Time Zone Mountain Daylight Time
Event City LAS ANIMAS
Event State COLORADO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 81054
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 753 Mountain Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 245
Weather Observation Facility ID LHX
Elevation of weather observation facility 4238
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 6
Time Zone of the weather observation MDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 5870
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 559
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jun 19 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 910
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:20PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7308E
NTSB Number FTW97FA229
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Ground
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Air Tractor
Aircraft Model AT-301
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-301
Aircraft Serial Number 301-0625
Certified Max Gross Weight 6000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Mar 25 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name MILES B. & CHI-ANN BOND
Aircraft Owner Street Address 30377 1ST AVENUE
Aircraft Owner City LA JUNTA
Aircraft Owner State CO
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 81050
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 29500 ROAD 5.5
Operator City LAS ANIMAS
Operator State CO
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 81054
Operator Code BBOG
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Agriculture
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not Unknown
Indicates Domestic or International Flight Unknown
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail Unknown
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Aerial Application
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code LHX
Departure City LA JUNTA
Departure State CO
Departure Country
Departure Time 730
Departure Time Zone MDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --