# NTSB CEN26LA036: Air Tractor AT-502, N7315L, Gueydan, LA, November 5, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 5, 2025, 15:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Gueydan, LA · ag field
- Coordinates: 30.021375, -92.513853 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0214&lon=-92.5139&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: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 11, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201962
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA036
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201962/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201962
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA036

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain situational awareness and clearance from terrain while maneuvering to avoid birds.

## Findings

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

- [Object/animal/substance: animal(s)/bird(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 358 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022045/cases.md)
- [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-502, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md)
- [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-502, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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-502, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0390303), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he took evasive action to avoid birds during an agricultural application flight. He had completed an application pass and was in a turn to set up for the next pass when he encountered the birds. The pilot noted that he lost situational awareness and inadvertently impacted the terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures that affected normal operation of the airplane before the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N7315L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7315L), registered now, S/N 502-0006, built 1987 (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: 502-0006
- Year built: 1987
- Airframe hours: 14629.8
- Engines: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34 750 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Coco Aviation LLC, doing business as Coco Aviation
- Registered owner: Coco Aviation LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, October 2, 2025, 10 hours before
- Departed: PVT, Plauncheville, AL
- Destination: PVT, Plauncheville, AL
- Airport: N/A
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 13, 2025; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 15,826 total, 7,826 in this make and model, 15,778 as pilot in command, 103 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observed at: KIYA, 23 nm away
- METAR: METAR KIYA 052135Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 26/16 A3012 RMK AO2

## 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 20251105020419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251105020419A), Nov 5, 2025: Air Tractor Inc AT-502, Gueydan, LA, Substantial damage. The pilot was conducting aerial application operations over a rice field during daylight hours, utilizing the back-to-back spraying method. After completing…

## Other investigations on N7315L (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 FTW92DRD04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92DRD04), Jul 8, 1992: Air Tractor AT-502 (N7315L), Mamou, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN PROPER CLEARANCE.

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201962. 14.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 8.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19582787&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN26LA036_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19585039&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Pilot_05Nov2025_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident site diagram (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 340 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19582932&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Diagram%20--%20CEN26LA036-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 857 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19584630&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos%20--%20CEN26LA036-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance records -- annual inspection (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19619190&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Annual%20Inspection%20--%20N7315L_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.

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