# NTSB CEN25LA267: Air Tractor AT-402B, N647RA, Wyoming, IL, July 15, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 15, 2025, 07:12 local (12:12 UTC) - Place: Wyoming, IL - Coordinates: 41.01438, -89.71606 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0144&lon=-89.7161&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Springfield FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 200593 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA267 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200593/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200593 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA267 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to attain a positive climb rate due to airplane’s improper takeoff configuration. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=0390208), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area length](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md?model=0390208), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md) - [Flight control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md?model=0390208), [All aircraft, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0390208), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-402B, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390208), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the aerial application flight stated that he landed on a company grass strip and loaded the airplane with liquid fertilizer. He then departed to spray the fertilizer and returned to the airstrip about 30-40 minutes later. He loaded the airplane with the same quantity of fertilizer for a second flight. He said that during the second takeoff, he was turning the airplane and powering up the engine, when he hit the wing flap rocker switch to extend flaps. During the takeoff roll, which was to the east, the sun was in his eyes and when the airplane tail lifted off the ground, he saw that the airplane had veered a little to the left into an area of taller grass. He returned the airplane along the intended takeoff path down the runway, and toward the runway end, he rotated the airplane, but the airplane settled into a soybean field. The airplane impacted the field and sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot was not wearing tinted glasses, and the helmet visor that he was wearing was also not tinted at the time of the accident takeoff. The pilot stated that after the accident he observed that the wing flaps were retracted. The pilot stated there was no mechanical malfunction or failure of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot believed that during the accident takeoff, the airplane settled into the soybean field because the airplane lost takeoff speed when it went into the area of taller grass on the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N647RA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N647RA-2026-09-04), registration cancelled 2026-09-04, S/N 402B-1248, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-402B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402b) (registry code 0390208) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-34ag) (registry code 52251, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402B-1248 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 2778.2 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Diversified Applications Inc. - Registered owner: Bank Of Utah Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 30, 2024 - Airport: PVT, Private, runway 090, 2,600 × 90 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 26, 2025; seat: center; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 6,418 total, 75 in this make and model, 6,368 as pilot in command, 140 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Observed at: PIA, 40 nm away ## 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 20250715007939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250715007939A), Jul 15, 2025: Air Tractor Inc AT-402B, Wyoming, IL, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that he left aledo, IL at approximately 0600 on Tuesday July 15, 2025 with the fuel tank ¾ full and the aircraft holds 234 usable gallons of… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200593. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19285109&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Correspondence - pilot email regarding airstrip information and sunglasses (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19284965&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Re_%20NTSB%20Airport%20Information%20Needed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 593 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19234199&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Template-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19285414&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Annual%20inspection_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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.