# NTSB investigations: Air Tractor AT-502B: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

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 CEN24FA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA260.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Bonita, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jul 11, 2024 · N6177J · 2 aircraft · Destroyed
  > The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other airplane while at low altitude enroute to their aerial application flights.
- [NTSB CEN24FA021](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA021.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Vidalia, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Oct 24, 2023 · N5180W · Substantial damage
  > The 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…
- [NTSB CEN22LA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA310.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Wyoming, IL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jul 10, 2022 · N205SK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing.
- [NTSB ERA22LA302](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA302.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Center Cross, VA · Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 8, 2022 · N50075 · Substantial damage
  > A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined.
- [NTSB CEN21LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA283.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Edwardsburg, MI · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report · Jun 20, 2021 · N8523Z · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB CEN21FA270](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21FA270.md): Air Tractor 502B · Paragould, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Jun 15, 2021 · N6088K · Destroyed
  > An inflight loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain during an aerial application flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
- [NTSB CEN20LA306](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA306.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Grant, NE · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jul 25, 2020 · N502KJ · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering during an agricultural flight, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a loss of control at too low of an altitude to recover. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s…
- [NTSB ERA20CA253](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA253.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Washington, NC · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jul 15, 2020 · N2038Q · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain directional during landing on a wet grass runway.
- [NTSB ERA20CA231](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA231.md): Air Tractor AT502 · South Bay, FL · Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report · Jun 29, 2020 · N42190 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's loss of airplane control during the approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with vegetation and terrain.
- [NTSB ERA20LA217](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA217.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Atmore, AL · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Jun 16, 2020 · N879JA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, spin, and loss of control.
- [NTSB GAA19CA502](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA502.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Onida, SD · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 16, 2019 · N500KA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power wires during agricultural application operations.
- [NTSB CEN19FA259](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA259.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Sumner, IA · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report · Aug 8, 2019 · N6113C · Destroyed
  > The pilot’s impairment by medical conditions and/or medications, which resulted in the airplane’s impact with power lines and terrain.
- [NTSB GAA19CA480](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA480.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Waco, NE · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 4, 2019 · N730JD · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from wires during an agricultural application flight.
- [NTSB GAA19CA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA339.md): Air Tractor AT502 · San Benito, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 13, 2019 · N103CK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to take off with the airplane near its maximum allowable gross takeoff weight and his subsequent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB GAA19CA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA328.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Monument, KS · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 7, 2019 · N60642 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain altitude due to distraction by ground equipment in the airplane’s path, which resulted in his failure to maintain clearance from crops during an agricultural application flight and resulted in a loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB GAA19CA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA303.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Rockford, OH · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · May 31, 2019 · N60518 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an agricultural application flight.
- [NTSB WPR19LA112](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA112.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Morganza, LA · Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report · Apr 16, 2019 · N599LA · Substantial damage
  > A loss of aircraft control due to the separation of the elevator pushrod attachment bolt.
- [NTSB CEN19FA003](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19FA003.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Placedo, TX · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Oct 12, 2018 · N6135P · Destroyed
  > The 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.
- [NTSB CEN18FA339](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA339.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Bronson, MI · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 18, 2018 · N502RL · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall, and loss of control at an altitude too low for recovery.
- [NTSB GAA18CA476](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA476.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Louise, MS · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 30, 2018 · N205SK · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper landing flare, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and a subsequent loss of directional control.
- [NTSB CEN18FA232](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA232.md): Air Tractor AT 502B · Enid, OK · Accident · 1 fatal · Class 2 · Field · Final report · Jun 19, 2018 · N2063B · Destroyed
  > The pilot's failure to see and avoid a known obstacle (communications tower) during agricultural spraying operations.
- [NTSB ERA17FA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17FA279.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Philipp, MS · Accident · 1 fatal · Field investigation · Final report · Aug 16, 2017 · N6082B · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's improper decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions, below a low overcast ceiling, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.
- [NTSB CEN17CA294](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17CA294.md): Air Tractor AT 502B · Harrold, SD · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jul 26, 2017 · N421CA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s improper attempt at a low-pass maneuver, which resulted in a collision with a tractor.
- [NTSB GAA17CA360](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA360.md): Air Tractor AT 502 · Portales, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 22, 2017 · N700LA · Destroyed
  > The pilot's decision to fly the airplane under transmission lines while maneuvering at low altitude in high-density altitude conditions, which resulted in subsequent collision with terrain.
- [NTSB CEN17LA027](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA027.md): Air Tractor AT 502B · Hereford, TX · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Oct 27, 2016 · N8525G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a cotton crop while maneuvering during agricultural application operations, which resulted in a loss of airplane control.
- [NTSB GAA17CA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA030.md): Air Tractor AT 502 · Paragould, AR · Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 18, 2016 · N4218E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to avoid electrical wires during low-altitude maneuvering, which resulted in a wire strike.
- [NTSB CEN16LA312](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA312.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Hickory Ridge, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 8, 2016 · N634LA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a transmission line while maneuvering at low altitude.
- [NTSB GAA16CA303](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA303.md): Air Tractor AT 502 · Nicolaus, CA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 1, 2016 · N5091N · Substantial damage
  > The 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.
- [NTSB CEN15LA389](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA389.md): Air Tractor AT 502B · Monroe, NE · Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 27, 2015 · N61267 · Substantial damage
  > Loss of propeller thrust for reasons that could not be determined, since examination of the airplane's engine, propeller, and associated accessories revealed no anomalies.
- [NTSB CEN15LA335](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA335.md): Air Tractor AT 502B · Virden, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 1, 2015 · N502LH · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to establish a proper airspeed during takeoff with the airplane near its maximum gross weight and with a quartering tailwind.
- [NTSB GAA15CA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA152.md): Air Tractor AT 502B · Edna, TX · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Jun 24, 2015 · N6107W · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, resulting in a runway excursion, and collision with a fence.
- [NTSB CEN15LA222](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA222.md): Air Tractor AT 502B · Basile, LA · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 5, 2015 · N4221G · Destroyed
  > The pilot’ failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN14CA464](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14CA464.md): Air Tractor AT 502B · Colusa, IL · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 27, 2014 · N369AB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane during takeoff from a grass strip. Contributing was the airplane being loaded beyond its capability for the runway.
- [NTSB WPR14LA245](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA245.md): Air Tractor AT 502B · Princeton, CA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 13, 2014 · N502JS · Substantial damage
  > The partial loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
- [NTSB CEN14LA211](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA211.md): Air Tractor AT 502B · Garfield, KS · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · Apr 22, 2014 · N51990 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and subsequent failure to remain clear of power lines while maneuvering low to the ground.
- [NTSB CEN13LA473](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA473.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Nauvoo, IL · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 15, 2013 · N6113C · Substantial damage
  > A fatigue failure of an engine compressor turbine blade, which resulted in extensive secondary engine damage and a complete loss of engine power.
- [NTSB CEN13LA402](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA402.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Tillar, AR · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 3, 2013 · N5182C · Substantial damage
  > The loss of engine throttle control during takeoff due to an unsecured cockpit throttle control pin, which resulted in a runway overrun.
- [NTSB CEN13LA371](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA371.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Campbell, NE · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 23, 2013 · N6017E · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to continue with the takeoff roll despite the airplane's difficulty becoming airborne The high-density altitude likely contributed to the airplane's reduced performance.
- [NTSB ERA13CA033](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA033.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Newton, GA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 20, 2012 · N502PB · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines while maneuvering, which resulted in a hard forced landing.
- [NTSB CEN13CA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13CA019.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Portales, NM · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Oct 17, 2012 · N598LA · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial application flight.
- [NTSB CEN12LA500](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA500.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Newellton, LA · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Aug 1, 2012 · N5128U · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's inadequate takeoff planning and his use of an improper flap setting, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with terrain during takeoff.
- [NTSB CEN09CA533](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA533.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Whittemore, IA · Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report · Aug 17, 2009 · N5003C · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's lack of preflight planning and remedial action with resulted in the airplane's inability to climb out of ground effect.
- [NTSB ERA09LA431](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA431.md): Air Tractor AT502 · Minter City, MS · Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jul 31, 2009 · N60237 · Substantial damage
  > The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering at a low altitude, resulting in an aerodynamic stall.
- [NTSB DFW08LA167](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA167.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Bethany, MO · Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report · Jun 24, 2008 · N5005G · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's decision to take off with a known deficiency.
- [NTSB DFW08LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW08LA143.md): Air Tractor AT-502B · Wheatley, AR · Accident · 1 fatal · Limited investigation · Final report · May 15, 2008 · N6112D · Substantial damage
  > The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, resulting in an inadvertent low-altitude aerodynamic stall.

## 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 ('0390307')
    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" = '470' 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/470/sequence?model=0390307

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