# NTSB CEN25FA197: Air Tractor AT-502, N9185F, Grady, AR, June 6, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Preliminary report - Date: June 6, 2025, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Grady, AR · irrigation ditch - Coordinates: 34.184647, -91.665714 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1846&lon=-91.6657&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Investigation ongoing - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards, Air Tractor - NTSB case key (mKey): 200279 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25FA197 - NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200279/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25FA197 ## Preliminary report On June 6, 2025, about 1830 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502 airplane, N9185F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Grady, Arkansas. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural application flight. The pilot was departing from a 2,300 ft long paved airstrip, oriented about 015°, at the time of the accident. A track in the grass off the right side of the runway began about 300 ft from the end of the pavement and appeared consistent with being made by the airplane tailwheel. The track was oriented about 025°. After about 200 ft, the single track transitioned to three tracks consistent was all three landing gear wheels being on the ground. The tracks were about 200 ft long and ended about 100 ft beyond the end of the runway pavement. They continued along the approximate 025° heading into the adjacent soybean field. The center track was offset to the right relative to the outer two tracks consistent with the tail of the airplane being offset as it traveled through the bean field. An additional set of tracks began again about 50 ft from an irrigation ditch. The irrigation ditch was located about 450 ft from the end of the runway pavement. Figure 1 – Runway with landing gear tracks Figure 2 – Airplane at accident site along irrigation ditch The airplane came to rest inverted on the north side of an irrigation. The outboard left wing was fragmented, and the aft fuselage was partially separated. The engine mount was deformed; however, the engine remained securely attached and appeared undamaged. Engine control continuity was confirmed. Aileron control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit control stick to the left-wing pushrod and to the right aileron. The left aileron was separated and fragmented consistent with the outboard wing damage. Elevator control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit control stick to the elevators. However, the aft elevator pushrod was bent consistent with the fuselage damage. The left rudder cable was separated immediately forward of the rudder control horn. The separation was frayed consistent with an overstress failure. The right rudder cable was continuous from the cockpit rudder pedal to the control horn at the aft fuselage. Further examination of the engine and airframe fuel system are planned. In addition, a Satloc GPS position tracking unit was retained for examination and download. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9185F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9185F), registered now, S/N 502-0206, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502-0206 - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 16344.7 - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Farm Brothers Flyers A LLC, doing business as Farm Brothers Flyers - Registered owner: Farm Brothers Flyers A LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 16, 2025, 107.9 hours before - Departed: PVT, Grady, AR - Destination: PVT, Grady, AR - Airport: PVT, N/A, runway 2, 2,300 × 20 ft, concrete - Equipment: Satellite tracking device ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KPBF, 13 nm away - METAR: KPBF 062253Z AUTO 24006KT 10SM CLR 31/21 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP122 T03110211 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20250606005919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250606005919A), Jun 6, 2025: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Swan Lake, AR, Destroyed, 1 fatal. At approximately 1630 on June 6th,[privacy data omitted] an Air tractor 602 had reloaded with approximately 2,500 lbs of fertilizer and refueled approximately… ## Other investigations on N9185F (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 ATL02LA060](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA060), Mar 5, 2002: Air Tractor AT-502 (N9185F), Schlater, MS, substantial damage. Probable cause: an unknown person at an unknown time exceeded the engine temperature limitations that resulted in the failure of compressor turbine and the subsequent loss of engine power during takeoff. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.