# NTSB investigations: Air Tractor AT-502: Low altitude operation/event

NTSB aviation accident and incident investigations since 1962: the probable cause, findings, aircraft, crew, weather and docket of each, linked to the FAA registry and the FAA’s own reports.

## Latest cases

- [NTSB CEN26LA036](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA036.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · Gueydan, LA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Nov 5, 2025 · N7315L · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness and clearance from terrain while maneuvering to avoid birds.
- [NTSB CEN22LA352](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA352.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · Washington, LA · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 1, 2022 · N407CT · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a wire during an aerial application of a field.
- [NTSB CEN22LA342](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA342.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · East Grand Forks, MN · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 21, 2022 · N1540S · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the power lines during a low-level application pass.
- [NTSB CEN21LA354](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA354.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · Wooster, OH · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Aug 4, 2021 · N1519U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot inadvertently collided with powerline wires during an agricultural spraying flight, resulting in a loss of aircraft control and subsequent impact with the ground.
- [NTSB CEN20LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA143.md): Air Tractor AT 502 · Pecan Gap, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 8, 2020 · N9185D · Destroyed
  > The pilot did not maintain adequate clearance from tree, which resulted in a collision with a tree and subsequent impact with terrain.
- [NTSB GAA19CA453](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA453.md): Air Tractor AT 502 · Stanton, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 24, 2019 · N15400 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during an agricultural application flight.
- [NTSB GAA19CA452](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA452.md): Air Tractor AT 502 · Welsh, LA · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 24, 2019 · N1509E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a telephone pole during an agricultural application flight.
- [NTSB CEN19FA117](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA117.md): Air Tractor AT 502 · Harlingen, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Apr 9, 2019 · N7314D · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power transmission lines during low altitude flight operations. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s impairment due to a sedating medication.
- [NTSB GAA19CA078](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA078.md): Air Tractor AT 502 · Americus, GA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Nov 28, 2018 · N843WA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid a power line during an agricultural application flight.
- [NTSB CEN16LA181](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA181.md): Air Tractor AT 502 · West, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 14, 2016 · N1546Z · Destroyed
  > The 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.
- [NTSB CEN12CA546](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA546.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · Hanley Falls, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 14, 2012 · N1021D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from a guy wire during an agricultural application pass.
- [NTSB CEN09CA540](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA540.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · East Grand Forks, MN · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 22, 2009 · N4516K · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the crops while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB MIA08CA170](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA170.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · Satartia, MS · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 22, 2008 · N1520X · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate visual lookout resulting in the in-flight collision with a 40-foot-tall antenna.
- [NTSB SEA08CA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA08CA113.md): Air Tractor AT-502 · Waitsburg, WA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Apr 27, 2008 · N1519U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain while maneuvering at low altitude. Contributing to the accident was the rising terrain.

## The whole list in SQL

Runs in DuckDB 1.2 or later on the release's Parquet files over HTTPS:

```sql
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.aircraft_model_code IN ('0390303')
    AND EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' s WHERE s.case_mkey = x.case_mkey AND s.aircrafts_position = x.position AND s."tier2Number" = '220' AND s.case_mkey IN (SELECT case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_events.parquet' WHERE "isDefiningEvent")))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESC
```

This list as a web page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence?model=0390303

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