# NTSB CEN26LA252: Air Tractor AT802, N808HB, Whiting, KS, July 13, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 13, 2026, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Whiting, KS - Coordinates: 39.577801, -95.576697 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5778&lon=-95.5767&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2026 - 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): 203385 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203385/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203385 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA252 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an antenna while maneuvering during a low-level aerial application flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; 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) - [Object/animal/substance: tower/antenna (incl guy wires)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/cases.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022017/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) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 27 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-802A, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390308), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while making a low-level aerial application pass over a corn field, he heard a loud bang and felt as if the airplane impacted something. He attempted to increase the engine power, but the engine did not respond to the throttle control inputs. The pilot performed an emergency hopper dump of the liquid chemical load and conducted a forced landing to a flat grass field, and a post-impact fire ensued. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, engine mount, elevator, and both wings. The propeller hub was found near a damaged antenna about .75 mi from where the airplane came to rest. The antenna was located inside of a metal fence, next to a small white building. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N808HB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N808HB), registered now, S/N 802A-0498, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR AT802 (A) - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-802A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (registry code 0390308) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65ag) (registry code 52109, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 802A0498 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 6933.6 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG 1295 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Heinen Brothers - Registered owner: Kansas Farm and Ranch Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, November 1, 2025 - Departed: Salina, KS - Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: minor; flight instructor, sport pilot, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 6, 2025; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 8,700 total, 2,000 in this make and model, 8,600 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: KTOP, 30 nm away - METAR: KTOP 131653Z VRB04KT 10SM SCT036 BKN048 28/21 A3022 RMK AO2 SLP224 T02830206,M ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 8, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=203385. 2.8 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=20933773&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20CEN26LA252_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20942956&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20934471&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20N808HB_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.