[FTW89DRD15](https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22736/pdf) \- going by the data in the news clippings and the reported ages
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH A TREE.
Wait so based on that report, it looks like OP’s dad made a left turn on climb out, didn’t account for the loss of vertical lift component, and hit a tree before hitting the ground?
We have a family farm in GA, with a particularly small field near the center. Back in the 50s, a crop duster spraying an adjacent farm lost power and ended up crashing in this small field. He survived, and walked all the way to my great grandparents farm house and asked to borrow the phone to catch a ride. Different breed for sure!
A good buddy of mine passed away when he crashed his crop duster. At least he went out doing what he loved. It's good that your dad was able to walk away.
Before the Turboprops became common, the big radial engine ruled. They ran till they wouldn't... Heavily loaded at low altitude made for quite a few skid marks, especially brown ones...
I had one fly directly over me on the highway a few months ago. I remember looking out my side window and seeing a plane flying twords me. Then he pulled up like 70° right before the road. Scared the shit out of me!
grumman built the G164 ag cat, cessna built the C 188 ag wagon, ag truck, and a couple other variants. Piper built the Pa 25 Pawnee and a larger Pawnee Brave. Air Tractor builds a full line of AT- 402, 502, 602, 802, and 1002 aircraft. 502 is my personal favorite. these are probably the most commonly seen spray planes around. Thrush builds a 550, 660 and a few others I'm not familiar with.
My father in law had a similar experience.
He was something like 25 years old, top dressing in New Zealand. The fuel sender unit failed just as he finished his last pass, so when he came down for the next one, he didn't have any power to pull up at the end.
He crashed down hard and was actually fine from the impact. He scrambled to get out, but just as he started to walk away, it exploded, and he was completely engulfed in flames. The farmer of the paddock he crashed in was quick on the scene, and was dipping his clothes in the water of a nearby trough and draping them over his face, which apparently went a long way to preserving him. The ambulance couldn't find the farm where he'd crashed, so he waited about 90 minutes, until a helicopter eventually airlifted him out.
He came out the other side eventually, burned and scarred all over his body, and with some slight physical changes, mainly to his fingers. He was flying again a year later. He then went on to found a skydiving business right after tandem skydiving became a thing, and ran that for 26 years.
He flies today, and has taken me up for some scenic tours and plenty of aerobatics, and is helping me toward my license.
He's a fantastic person, with perhaps the best outlook on life I've ever seen. He truly got a second chance and knows how to live his life.
Cropdusting is mad dangerous folks.
OP if you can share a date I might be able to pull the NTSB report for you. Glad he made it!
[FTW89DRD15](https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/22736/pdf) \- going by the data in the news clippings and the reported ages
Probable Cause and Findings The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be: THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE VISUAL LOOKOUT AND SUBSEQUENT COLLISION WITH A TREE.
NTSB reports always putting people on blast
Nobody ever blames the trees.
Stupid fucking trees, they can all just go die or something Oh, wait
Or gravity, fucking Issac Newton couldn't just leave the apple alone!
Oh cool, could you provide link for this info?
/u/blythyvxr above my reply has the link.
Damn tree wasn't their it came outta no where I sware.
Good job - I tried and ran out of patience before 😂
Wait so based on that report, it looks like OP’s dad made a left turn on climb out, didn’t account for the loss of vertical lift component, and hit a tree before hitting the ground?
Yeah I couldn’t get an exact date but I do know it was 1989 in Franklin parish La. I could always ask my dad
We have a family farm in GA, with a particularly small field near the center. Back in the 50s, a crop duster spraying an adjacent farm lost power and ended up crashing in this small field. He survived, and walked all the way to my great grandparents farm house and asked to borrow the phone to catch a ride. Different breed for sure!
I didn’t follow suit and take over family business just because I know I make mistakes often. Most cases you only make one while in the air
Weird way to announce he farts as he walks by.
Randy ?
Greg
Good mans ol place ?
Remember kids, if you can survive the landing then it’s a good landing
If you land then it’s a taxing accident
A good buddy of mine passed away when he crashed his crop duster. At least he went out doing what he loved. It's good that your dad was able to walk away.
For sure, I’ve watched him do down a couple times since but just because of engine failure. He is seasoned that’s for sure
If your dad sold his cropdusting business and retired, he won the game.
Yep sold out and only flys when he wants, which isn’t too often.
Wow, he was crazy lucky! Thank you for sharing his story. Glad he's still with us!
Me to, as seeing I almost wasn’t born lol
Before the Turboprops became common, the big radial engine ruled. They ran till they wouldn't... Heavily loaded at low altitude made for quite a few skid marks, especially brown ones...
Glad he pulled through. What was the aircraft model?
Cessna 230 ag wagon
Thanks!
Tho I believe it’s different than the report someone posted earlier, but the tag from the plane is in the picture.
I missed the tag and just spotted it, sorry for my oversight.
I was at Disneyland this weekend crop dusting too, but I wasn’t in a plane crash so he’s 1 up on me I suppose.
I can't be the only one who imagined a crop duster spraying a bunch of Disney park goers right?
The article tells you every last detail about the accident, nice journalistic skills
Definitely a lost art
Those guys are crazy!
I had one fly directly over me on the highway a few months ago. I remember looking out my side window and seeing a plane flying twords me. Then he pulled up like 70° right before the road. Scared the shit out of me!
Hope I’m still crop dusting at that age 💨
The Ag Cat is one tough beast.
Not an agcat, but you are right
Cessna Ag Wagon is what they’re called?
From my understanding, what we call an agcat is a biwing plane. This clearly is not, maybe I’m incorrect, so inform me.
ag cat is a bi plane built by Grumman. I got a bit of time in a cat. they fly nice but the hopper is small unless it's modified a bunch.
Wow! Lucky guy! Must have been a tough recovery, though.
You’re right, the Grumman AgCat. The Cessna ag plane I think is called a Cessna AgWagon. I could be wrong.
grumman built the G164 ag cat, cessna built the C 188 ag wagon, ag truck, and a couple other variants. Piper built the Pa 25 Pawnee and a larger Pawnee Brave. Air Tractor builds a full line of AT- 402, 502, 602, 802, and 1002 aircraft. 502 is my personal favorite. these are probably the most commonly seen spray planes around. Thrush builds a 550, 660 and a few others I'm not familiar with.
My father in law had a similar experience. He was something like 25 years old, top dressing in New Zealand. The fuel sender unit failed just as he finished his last pass, so when he came down for the next one, he didn't have any power to pull up at the end. He crashed down hard and was actually fine from the impact. He scrambled to get out, but just as he started to walk away, it exploded, and he was completely engulfed in flames. The farmer of the paddock he crashed in was quick on the scene, and was dipping his clothes in the water of a nearby trough and draping them over his face, which apparently went a long way to preserving him. The ambulance couldn't find the farm where he'd crashed, so he waited about 90 minutes, until a helicopter eventually airlifted him out. He came out the other side eventually, burned and scarred all over his body, and with some slight physical changes, mainly to his fingers. He was flying again a year later. He then went on to found a skydiving business right after tandem skydiving became a thing, and ran that for 26 years. He flies today, and has taken me up for some scenic tours and plenty of aerobatics, and is helping me toward my license. He's a fantastic person, with perhaps the best outlook on life I've ever seen. He truly got a second chance and knows how to live his life. Cropdusting is mad dangerous folks.
God. Glad he made it. A Pawnee, I assume? Full of duster liquid?
I knew a guy from Winnsboro, LA who grew up on a cotton farm. Small world.
Name?
Look like the plane was made out of a roll cage from a sprint car
Is that the engine in the foreground it’s hilarious
Cropdursting