NTSB investigations: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series

34 cases on aircraft whose registry engine model is Pratt & Whitney PT6A series, where the defining event was Low altitude operation/event. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.

Cases per year

20082026
NTSB investigations: Pratt & Whitney PT6A series per year, 2008–2026: 34 cases
20082
20091
20102
20113
20121
20131
20141
20164
20184
20195
20202
20212
20222
20231
20242
20251

Latest cases

Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
  FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
  WHERE c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.engine_model_code IN ('52032', '52034')
      AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' e WHERE e.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND e.aircrafts_position = x.position AND e.\"isDefiningEvent\" AND e.\"tier2Number\" = '220'))
  ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"

Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.

NTSB CEN26LA036Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502 · Gueydan, LAThe pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness and clearance from terrain while maneuvering to avoid birds.Nov 5, 2025 · N7315L · Substantial damageNTSB WPR24FA255Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802A · Izee, ORThe pilot’s controlled flight into terrain while maneuvering through an area of low visibility due to wildfire smoke and haze.Jul 26, 2024 · N805DG · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24LA175Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802A · England, ARThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tower guy wires while maneuvering during a low-level aerial application flight.May 1, 2024 · N8515G · Substantial damageNTSB CEN24FA021Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Vidalia, LAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial application flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s cell phone use and the position of the sun, which reduced the pilot’s ability to perceive the location of the power…Oct 24, 2023 · N5180W · Substantial damageNTSB CEN22LA335Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAyres S2R-T34 · Parkin, ARThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tower guy wires while maneuvering.Jul 23, 2022 · N4046S · DestroyedNTSB CEN22LA342Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502 · East Grand Forks, MNThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the power lines during a low-level application pass.Jul 21, 2022 · N1540S · Substantial damageNTSB WPR21LA310Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802A · Fort Sumner, NMThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from a windmill while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.Jul 30, 2021 · N9197F · DestroyedNTSB CEN21LA283Accident · Serious injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Edwardsburg, MIThe pilot’s failure to identify rising terrain and to maintain terrain clearance from trees during an aerial application pass that resulted in an in-flight collision with trees and terrain.Jun 20, 2021 · N8523Z · Substantial damageNTSB CEN21LA005Accident · No injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT402 · Egypt, ARThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree limb during a low-level aerial application flight.Oct 2, 2020 · N4540F · Substantial damageNTSB CEN20LA143Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502 · Pecan Gap, TXThe pilot did not maintain adequate clearance from tree, which resulted in a collision with a tree and subsequent impact with terrain.Apr 8, 2020 · N9185D · DestroyedNTSB CEN19FA259Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Sumner, IAThe pilot’s impairment by medical conditions and/or medications, which resulted in the airplane’s impact with power lines and terrain.Aug 8, 2019 · N6113C · DestroyedNTSB GAA19CA453Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502 · Stanton, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during an agricultural application flight.Jul 24, 2019 · N15400 · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA452Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502 · Welsh, LAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a telephone pole during an agricultural application flight.Jul 24, 2019 · N1509E · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA352Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT402 · Liberal, KSThe pilot's failure to see and avoid a windmill tower while maneuvering at low altitude.Jun 17, 2019 · N5044Y · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA354Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT 602 · La Ward, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a wire during an aerial application flight in sun glare conditions.Jun 9, 2019 · N2602M · Substantial damageNTSB GAA19CA078Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502 · Americus, GAThe pilot's failure to see and avoid a power line during an agricultural application flight.Nov 28, 2018 · N843WA · Substantial damageNTSB CEN19FA003Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Placedo, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the antenna tower, a known obstruction, during the agricultural application flight. Contributing to the accident was glare from the sun which hindered the pilot's ability to see and avoid the antenna tower.Oct 12, 2018 · N6135P · DestroyedNTSB CEN18FA263Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-602 · Wheatley, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from terrain for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.Jul 11, 2018 · N8508P · DestroyedNTSB GAA18CA309Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT 402 · Nicolaus, CAThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from a power transmission wire.May 19, 2018 · N5128N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN16LA326Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportThrush S2R T660 · Ruthton, MNThe pilot's failure to see and avoid the tower guy-wire during an agricultural spraying operation.Aug 19, 2016 · N40499 · DestroyedNTSB CEN16LA312Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Hickory Ridge, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a transmission line while maneuvering at low altitude.Aug 8, 2016 · N634LA · Substantial damageNTSB GAA16CA303Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502 · Nicolaus, CAThe pilot's insufficient clearance from a power line during aerial application operations, which resulted in a power line strike, a forced landing on unsuitable terrain, loss of directional control, and collision with terrain.Jun 1, 2016 · N5091N · Substantial damageNTSB CEN16LA181Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502 · West, TXThe pilot’s failure to see and avoid cellular tower guy wires. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to operate at low altitude.May 14, 2016 · N1546Z · DestroyedNTSB CEN14LA211Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502B · Garfield, KSThe pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and subsequent failure to remain clear of power lines while maneuvering low to the ground.Apr 22, 2014 · N51990 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN13LA353Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802A · Minot, NDThe pilot’s failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees during an aerial application flight.Jun 16, 2013 · N8522S · Substantial damageNTSB CEN12FA521Accident · No injuriesField investigationFinal reportAyres S2R-T34 · Lakin, KSThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the corn during an aerial application flight.Aug 6, 2012 · N365SM · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11LA593Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-400 · Monango, NDThe pilot did not maintain adequate separation from a tree during the aerial-application flight.Aug 23, 2011 · N23720 · Substantial damageNTSB WPR11LA388Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-602 · Pine Bluffs, WYThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial application flight.Aug 17, 2011 · N8518Y · Substantial damageNTSB CEN11LA571Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-402 · Uvalde, TXThe pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering to avoid power lines during a precautionary landing, which resulted an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the fluctuating engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's…Aug 13, 2011 · N10119 · Substantial damageNTSB CEN10CA445Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Zwingle, IAThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during the agricultural flight.Jul 28, 2010 · N6030U · Substantial damageNTSB ERA10CA309Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT-402B · Alcolu, SCThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a tree. Contributing to the accident was the sunglare.Jun 10, 2010 · N5085Q · Substantial damageNTSB WPR09CA190Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal reportAyres S2R-T34 · Cove, ORThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from rising terrain while maneuvering.Apr 9, 2009 · N114JP · Substantial damageNTSB NYC08CA279Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Tunica, MSThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power lines during low-altitude maneuvers.Aug 13, 2008 · N61267 · Substantial damageNTSB MIA08CA137Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportAir Tractor AT-402B · Muscle Shoals, ALThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from utility wires during low altitude maneuvers.Jun 12, 2008 · N402BT · Substantial damage