Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Superior, Nebraska 68978
Friday, August 25, 2000 20:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said he was spraying a milo field, 3 miles southeast of Superior, Nebraska. While in a turn to south, 'the engine started to sputter and miss. Smoke started coming out of the left hand side of the engine ... a substantial power loss followed.' The pilot turned the airplane to the north and attempted to put down in an alfalfa field. During the landing attempt, the airplane struck some hay bales and a tree. An examination of the airplane's engine revealed a cracked exhaust valve on the number 7 cylinder. No other anomalies were found.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the cracked number 7 cylinder exhaust valve. A factor relating to this accident was the tree.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/25/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 2000
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City SUPERIOR
Event State NEBRASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 68978
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 8
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 1953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID HSI
Elevation of weather observation facility 1961
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 37
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Dusk
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) 28
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 8
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 None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 522
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 28 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 830
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N91842
NTSB Number CHI00LA271
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 None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Air Tractor
Aircraft Model AT-401
Aircraft Series Identifier AT-401
Aircraft Serial Number 907
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 31 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 300
Airframe Hours 2500
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BUTLER AIR SERVICE, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address RR 2 BOX 16A
Aircraft Owner City SUPERIOR
Aircraft Owner State NE
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 68978
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name BARRY BLACKSTONE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address RR 1 BOX 28
Operator City SUPERIOR
Operator State NE
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 68978
Operator Code
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 12K
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone CDT
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 --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 27 2001 4:05AM
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 --