# NTSB CEN26LA177: Air Tractor AT-602, N422TW, El Campo, TX, May 5, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 5, 2026, 16:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: El Campo, TX - Coordinates: 29.15821, -96.22594 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1582&lon=-96.2259&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 9, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO Houston - NTSB case key (mKey): 202939 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202939/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202939 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA177 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during takeoff resulting in a collision with a building during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: residence/building](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 58 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022022/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 37 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during the takeoff and initial climb to the south, the airplane encountered a “wind disturbance” which resulted in an uncommanded roll to the left. The left wing subsequently dropped and contacted a small wooden shed. The airplane yawed to the left, crossed a road, and impacted in an adjacent cornfield where it came to rest inverted. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and he should have climbed higher to avoid downdrafts from structures located near the runway. The pilot reported the winds were 15 to 20 knots from an unknown direction. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N422TW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N422TW), registered now, S/N 602-1278, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60ag) (registry code 52101, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 602-1278 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 4026 - Engines: P&W CANADA PT6A-60AG 1180 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Sug-Air LLC - Registered owner: Sug-Air LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 6, 2026, 11 hours before - Departed: 8TE8, El Campo, TX - Airport: 8TE8, Tradewind Ag Airport, runway 17, 2,550 × 22 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 13,320 total, 6,000 in this make and model, 12,820 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 9 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,200 ft overcast - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: KARM, 13 nm away - METAR: METAR KARM 052135Z AUTO 18009G17KT 10SM SCT023 SCT029 OVC042 28/22 A2976 RMK AO2 T02750224 TSNO ## 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 20260505004989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260505004989A), May 5, 2026: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, El Campo, TX, Destroyed. On may 5, 2026, at approximately 1620 hours local time, aircraft departed from runway 18. As the aircraft started to climb, the pilot encountered a wind… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202939. 24.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 24.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20345639&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA177%20pilots%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation with pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20525397&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA177%20NTSB%20MOR%20pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 787 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20486590&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN26LA177%20NTSB%20photo%20list-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.