Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Santa Maria
Saturday, January 24, 1998 21:28 GMT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Delivery flight from St. John's, Canada to Santa Maria, Azores, Portugal. Crash occurred at night. Weather described as rain and fog. Aircraft destroyed in post-crash fire. For further information, contact: Frederico J.F. Serra Investigator-in-Charge Department of Accident Investigation of CAA Aeroporto de Lisboa Lisbon, Portugal tel. (35l.1) 842-35 00/99 fax. (351.1) 847 35 85 ADDENDUM: On January 24, 1998, at approximately 2030 Greenwich Mean Time, an Air Tractor AT-501 agricultural airplane, N1006T, was destroyed while attempting to land on the northern coast of the island of Sao Jorge, in the Azores Islands, North Atlantic Ocean. The instrument rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane was operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91 and being delivered to a foreign operator in Douala, Republic of Cameroon, Africa. The weather conditions at the accident site are unknown. The transatlantic ferry flight originated in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, approximately six hours prior to the accident. The pilot of the GPS equipped single engine airplane was reported to radio a message that he was disoriented after experiencing navigational problems while en route to his intermediate refueling stop at Ponto Delgada, in the Azores Islands. A military cargo aircraft monitored the call and was able to provide the airplane with a heading for the nearest island. On the pilot's last radio transmission he reported that he had the island in sight. The burned wreckage of the airplane was located the next day on the northern coast of the island of Sao Jorge, one of the 9 islands that form the Azores. The accident is under the jurisdiction and control of the Government of Portugal. Any further information may be obtained from: Cabinete de Prevencao e Investigacao de Acidentes Direcco-Geral da Aviacao Civil Rua B, Edificio 6 Aeroporto de Lisboa 1700 Lisboa, Portugal Telephone: 351-1-8488151 Facsimile: 351-1-8473585 This report is for informational purposes only and contains only information released by or obtained from the Government of Portugal.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 1/24/1998
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 2128
Event Time Zone --
Event City SANTA MARIA
Event State --
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 1
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 Unknown
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Not Reported
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 0
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
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 Unknown
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 7000
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 2 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1251
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 10:39AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Instrument Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1006T
NTSB Number IAD98WA029
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire Unknown
Aircraft Explosion Unknown
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Air Tractor
Aircraft Model AT-501W
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-501W
Aircraft Serial Number
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class Unknown
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines --
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name
Aircraft Owner Street Address
Aircraft Owner City
Aircraft Owner State
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address PO BOX 1618
Operator City GUYMON
Operator State OK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 73942
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Ferry
Second Pilot on Board Unknown
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code CYYT
Departure City ST. JOHN'S
Departure State CD
Departure Country
Departure Time 0
Departure Time Zone
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LPSJ
Destination City ST. JORGE IS.
Destination State OF
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Approach
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 3 2001 9:58AM
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 --