Williams Afb Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Williams Afb, Arizona 85224
Tuesady, August 27, 1985 4:45 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

AFTER MAKING HIS FIRST SWATH RUN,DURING THE HOURS OF DARKNESS,THE PILOT BECAME DISORENTED AND FLEW INTO AN AREA WITH TALL ELECTRICAL TRANSMISSION LINES. HE DESCENDED INTO TREES BENEATH THE LINES IN HIS ATTEMPT TO MISS THEM.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/27/1985
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 445
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City WILLIAMS AFB
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85224
Event Date Year 1985
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport WILLIAMS AFB
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CHD
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 10
Degrees magnetic from airport 352
Airport Elevation 1383
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 345 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 87
Weather Observation Facility ID PHX
Elevation of weather observation facility 1132
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Night/Dark
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) 35
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 20
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 3200
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) 2580
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Aug 28 1985 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 30102
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 9:15AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3168U
NTSB Number LAX85LA374
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 137: Agricultural
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name AIR TRACTOR
Aircraft Model AT301
Aircraft Series Identifier AT301
Aircraft Serial Number 301-0565
Certified Max Gross Weight 5000
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 Aug 10 1985 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 550
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name AIR TRACTOR, INC.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 485
Aircraft Owner City OLNEY
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 76374
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name SANTAN DUSTERS
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 806 W. FLINT STREET
Operator City CHANDLER
Operator State AZ
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 85224
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 No
Departure Airport Code P10
Departure City CHANDLER
Departure State AZ
Departure Country
Departure Time 430
Departure Time Zone MST
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 10:36AM
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 --