# NTSB CEN25LA285: Air Tractor AT-802A, N802BF, Walcott, IA, July 23, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 23, 2025, 16:00 UTC
- Place: Walcott, IA
- Coordinates: 41.676131, -90.744087 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6761&lon=-90.7441&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 23, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200624
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN25LA285
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200624/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200624
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN25LA285

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the crops during an aerial application flight.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 14 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was conducting an aerial application spray pass when the airplane made contact with the crop which pulled the airplane down. The airplane struck the ground. The left wing of the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N802BF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N802BF), registered now, S/N 802A-0116 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802A
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 802A-0116
- Year built: 2001
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AG turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Blue Sky Management LLC
- Registered owner: Blue Sky Management LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 210° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KDVN, 8 nm away
- METAR: KDVN 231552Z AUTO 21009KT 10SM CLR 31/26 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP150 T03060256

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 23, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200624. 395 KB in all.

- Accident pilot response (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19423072&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA285%20-%20MOR%20-%20Acc.%20Pilot%20Response-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 329 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19264538&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN25LA285%20-%20PHOTOS-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.

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