How many accidents has the Air Tractor AT-401 had?

The NTSB has recorded 73 events involving the Air Tractor AT-401: 5 fatal, 7 serious, 17 minor injuries, and 44 incidents with no injuries.

Is the Air Tractor AT-401 a safe aircraft?

Safety depends on many factors beyond the aircraft model, including pilot training, maintenance, and weather conditions. The Air Tractor AT-401 has 73 NTSB-recorded events. Always review individual reports for context — many events involve pilot error or weather, not aircraft defects.

Air Tractor AT-401 Safety Record

Complete NTSB accident and incident history. 73 events recorded from 1989 to 2014.

All Events

Incidents

Minor

Serious

Fatal (5 fatalities)

Date	Location	Reg#	Severity	Damage	Probable Cause
Aug 04, 1995	AURORA, NE	N4543F	Incident	substantial	the cracked engine assembly that caused the power loss during a critical phase of flight. Factors associated with this accident were the restricted a… the cracked engine assembly that caused the power loss during a critical phase of flight. Factors associated with this accident were the restricted airplane performance due to the power loss, the airplane's altitude was too low, and remedial action, by, the pilot, that would lead to an uneventful forced landing was not possible.
Jul 11, 1995	CASH, AR	N1004W	Incident	substantial	ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO PARTIAL FAILURE OF ONE MAGNETO COMBINED WITH TOTAL FAILURE OF THE OTHER MAGNETO. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FO… ENGINE POWER LOSS DUE TO PARTIAL FAILURE OF ONE MAGNETO COMBINED WITH TOTAL FAILURE OF THE OTHER MAGNETO. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Jul 10, 1995	CLEWISTON, FL	N9186J	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND ASSOCIATED WITH A NEARBY THUNDERSTORM AND F… IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND ASSOCIATED WITH A NEARBY THUNDERSTORM AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Jun 21, 1995	HEARNE, TX	N4537L	Incident	destroyed	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER. FACTORS WERE THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE FORCED LANDING AND… THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS RESULT OF THE FAILURE OF THE NUMBER TWO CYLINDER. FACTORS WERE THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN AVAILABLE FOR THE FORCED LANDING AND THE PILOT'S RESTRICTED VISION DUE TO OIL ON THE WINDSHIELD.
Jun 13, 1995	DENVER CITY, TX	N15111	Incident	destroyed	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A FRACTURE OF THE #3 CYLINDER RESULTING IN THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE CYLINDER. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAI… THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A FRACTURE OF THE #3 CYLINDER RESULTING IN THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE CYLINDER. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Sep 20, 1994	MCGEHEE, AR	N4549N	Incident	substantial	THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Aug 02, 1994	MCGEHEE, AR	N45297	Incident	substantial	TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AS THE ENGINE SEIZED DUE TO A BLOWER BEARING FAILURE. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Jun 27, 1994	WALLS, MS	N45332	Minor	substantial	THE PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. THE SANDY TERRAIN WAS A FACTOR.
Jun 16, 1994	PIONEER, LA	N10112	Minor	substantial	FUEL EXHAUSTION DUE TO THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO REFUEL. A FACTOR WAS A LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING.
Jul 15, 1993	DERMOTT, AR	N1009T	Incident	substantial	POWER LOSS DUE TO THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE'S MASTER ROD. FACTORS WERE AN IMPROPER ENGINE OVERHAUL AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCE… POWER LOSS DUE TO THE TOTAL FAILURE OF THE ENGINE'S MASTER ROD. FACTORS WERE AN IMPROPER ENGINE OVERHAUL AND THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
May 14, 1993	OCONTO, NE	N4503U	Minor	destroyed	THE PILOT'S INABILITY TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AFTER ENCOUNTERING A DOWNDRAFT.
Apr 17, 1993	FORT PIERCE, FL	N7316L	Minor	destroyed	FAILURE OF THE NO. 2 CYLINDER IN FATIGUE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. THE LACK OF SUITALE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING WAS A … FAILURE OF THE NO. 2 CYLINDER IN FATIGUE FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, OVER UNSUITABLE TERRAIN. THE LACK OF SUITALE TERRAIN FOR THE FORCED LANDING WAS A FACTOR.
Aug 09, 1992	PARKER, AZ	N1547P	Incident	substantial	THE INADEQUATE OVERHAUL OF THE PROPELLER BLADE BY THE OVERHAUL FACILITY. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE ROUGH AND UNEVEN TERRAIN.
Sep 16, 1991	SUMNER, MS	N1004W	Minor	substantial	FAILURE OF THE NO. 1 CYLINDER ASSEMBLY.
Jul 10, 1991	CALEXICO, CA	N4538K	Minor	destroyed	THE ERECTION OF A CONSTRUCTION SIGN ON AN ACTIVE RUNWAY BY COUNTY WORKERS WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE AIRPORT OPERATORS, AND, THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO … THE ERECTION OF A CONSTRUCTION SIGN ON AN ACTIVE RUNWAY BY COUNTY WORKERS WITHOUT NOTIFYING THE AIRPORT OPERATORS, AND, THE INABILITY OF THE PILOT TO DETECT THE PRESENCE OF THE SIGN DURING THE DARK NIGHT TAKEOFF.
Mar 15, 1991	AVON, MS	N73135	Serious (1)	substantial	LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS DURING A TURN WHILE ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE LE… LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS DURING A TURN WHILE ON AN AERIAL APPLICATION FLIGHT. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAGNETO DUE TO FAILURE OF A PHENOLIC GEAR WHICH DRIVES THE ROTATING MAGNET.
Aug 27, 1990	JACKSONVILLE, AR	N7318C	Incident	substantial	A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNKNOWN CAUSES. A FACTOR WAS THE UNSUITABLE TERRAIN.
Aug 04, 1990	TULE LAKE, CA	N45116	Minor	substantial	AN ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO MECHANICAL FAILURE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR.
Jul 26, 1990	SAN JOAQUIN, CA	N7315S	Fatal (1)	substantial	THE FAILURE OF THE NO. 4 CYLINDER HEAD.
Jun 21, 1990	JEROME, ID	N4530N	Incident	substantial	THE PILOT DID NOT MAINTAIN A PROPER ALTITUDE WHILE MANEUVERING TO REVERSE DIRECTION.
Apr 05, 1990	HORNERSVILLE, MO	N1015A	Incident	substantial	FAILURE OF AN ENGINE CYLINDER.
Aug 26, 1989	WABBASEKA, AR	N10103	Incident	substantial	IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TALL VEGETATION (GRASS). THE TALL VEGETATION & HI… IMPROPER PLANNING/DECISION BY THE PILOT WHICH RESULTED IN HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM THE TALL VEGETATION (GRASS). THE TALL VEGETATION & HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE WERE CONSIDERED TO BE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.
May 30, 1989	CLARKSDALE, MS	N1012H	Serious (1)	destroyed	THE PILOT FAILED TO MAINTAIN AIRSPEED RESULTING IN THE AIRPLANE STALLING AND DESCENDING OUT OF CONTROL.

Disclaimer: This data is sourced from the NTSB Aviation Accident Database. NTSB events reflect reported accidents and incidents and do not necessarily indicate a defect in the aircraft type. Many events involve pilot error, weather conditions, maintenance issues, or other factors unrelated to the aircraft design. This information is provided for research purposes only — consult official NTSB reports for complete details.

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Data source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database · About our data

Air Tractor AT-401 Safety Record

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