# Accident 20250605006099A: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Gilkerson, AR, June 5, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 5, 2025, 17:30 local time
- Place: Gilkerson, AR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Departure Roll
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Location: 35.7524° N, 90.8321° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7524&lon=-90.8321&mi=10
- Aircraft: N45113, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N45113) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-502 (registry code 0390303, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A (registry code 52043, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-60A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,186 total, 1,663 in this make and model, 225 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN25LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA200) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250605006099A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON JUNE 5, 2025, THE AIRMAN INVOLVED IN THE ACCIDENT WAS CONDUCTING AGRICULTURAL OPERATIONS NEAR GILKERSON, AR. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS AND CALM WINDS PREVAILED THROUGHOUT THE DAY; HOWEVER, AN ISOLATED THUNDERSTORM HAD DEVELOPED APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES TO THE SOUTHWEST OF THE ACCIDENT SITE. AFTER LANDING FROM SPREADING FERTILIZER, THE AIRMAN TAXIED UP TO THE LOADER TO PICK UP ANOTHER LOAD AND NOTICED THAT THE WINDSOCK WAS STILL INDICATING CALM WINDS. AFTER THE LOADING WAS COMPLETE, THE AIRMAN BEGAN HIS TAKEOFF ROLL, AND AS HE PASSED THE 10-KNOT WINDSOCK, HE NOTICED THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY INFLATED AND WHIPPING VIOLENTLY. APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET DOWN THE RUNWAY, THE AIRMAN FELT THE AIRCRAFT YAW VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND THEN BECAME AIRBORNE WITH VERY LITTLE AIRSPEED INDICATED ON THE AIRSPEED INDICATOR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN VEERED LEFT OF THE RUNWAY, STRIKING AN IRRIGATION DITCH WITH THE MAIN LANDING GEAR, WHICH CAUSED THE PROPELLER AND RIGHT WING TO IMPACT THE GROUND, AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON ITS BACK.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN25LA200](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA200), Jun 5, 2025: Air Tractor AT-502 (N45113), Gibson, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control during takeoff due to an encounter with a sudden wind shift.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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