# Accident 20260505004989A: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, El Campo, TX, May 5, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 5, 2026, 16:30 local time
- Place: El Campo, TX
- Airport: Tradewind Ag
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: 3UGG
- Location: 29.1582° N, 96.2259° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1582&lon=-96.2259&mi=10
- Aircraft: N422TW, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N422TW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Tractor AT-602 (registry code 0390309, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60AG (registry code 52101, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60ag) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602
- Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-60AG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 13,000 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN26LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA177) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260505004989A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 5, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 1620 HOURS LOCAL TIME, AIRCRAFT DEPARTED FROM RUNWAY 18.  AS THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO CLIMB, THE PILOT ENCOUNTERED A WIND DISTURBANCE OR STILL AIR DUE TO STRUCTURES AT THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY.  DUE TO THE REDUCED POWER SETTING CHOSEN BY THE PILOT TO CONSERVE FUEL AT TAKEOFF, THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO ADD POWER AND MAINTAIN ALTITUDE QUICKLY ENOUGH, AND AIRCRAFT SETTLED BACK DOWN WITH AN UNCOMMANDED LEFT ROLL.  THE LEFT WING CONTACTED A WOODEN FENCE JUST BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY AND TO THE LEFT, CONTRIBUTING TO THE LEFT YAW AND LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.  THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED OVER A ROAD AND CAME TO REST IN AN ADJACENT CORN FIELD INVERTED.  ENGINE POWER SECTION AND PROPELLOR WERE DISCOVERED ALONG THE DEBRIS FIELD BEFORE REACHING THE REST OF THE AIRCRAFT, DUE TO IMPACT WITH THE GROUND.  MOST OTHER DEBRIS WAS FOUND WITHIN A FEW YARDS OF THE FUSELAGE, OTHER THAN THE LEFT WING-TIP WHICH DEPARTED AT THE FENCE ON THE AIRPORT.

## 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 CEN26LA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA177), May 5, 2026: Air Tractor AT-602 (N422TW), El Campo, TX, destroyed. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff resulting in a collision with a building during takeoff.

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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