# NTSB ERA25LA212: Air Tractor AT-602, N260LA, Fremont, OH, May 25, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 25, 2025, 12:14 local (16:14 UTC) - Place: Fremont, OH - Coordinates: 41.41569, -83.01849 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4157&lon=-83.0185&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2025 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO, TSB, Air Tractor, Pratt & Whitney Canada - NTSB case key (mKey): 200206 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200206/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200206 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA212 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate takeoff performance planning, which resulted in a runway overrun and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Preflight or dispatch event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 355 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/030/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/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) ## Analysis The pilot of the aerial application airplane reported that the airplane was near its maximum gross weight with chemicals and fuel onboard. He attempted to take off from a turf and asphalt runway that was 2,650 ft long, beginning with asphalt and then becoming turf about one-third down the runway. The pilot further stated that all engine parameters looked normal during the takeoff roll, but when he attempted to rotate, the airplane did not leave the ground. As the airplane neared the end of the runway, he “pulled” the airplane into the air to clear an 8-ft dike at the end of the runway. The airplane cleared the dike but then settled into a marshy area beyond it, contacting trees and coming to rest upright. The airplane’s fuselage and empennage were substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that in the future, when winds are variable, it would be wise to re-assess airplane loading. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N260LA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N260LA), registered now, S/N 602-1268, 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-65AG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65ag) (registry code 52109, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 602-1268 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 3907 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AG 1050 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Gibbs Aero Spray - Registered owner: Gibbs Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 16, 2025, 49 hours before - Airport: 03OH, Gibbs Fiel, runway 2, 2,200 × 60 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 22, 2024; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 4,433 total, 1,495 in this make and model, 4,353 as pilot in command, 43 in the last 90 days, 43 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: S24, 5 nm away - METAR: KS24 251615Z AUTO 30008KT 10SM FEW036 BKN075 OVC085 17/10 A3027 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 20250525004069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250525004069A), May 25, 2025: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Fremont, OH, Substantial damage. Inspectors opinion the aircraft did not have suffcient airspeed to fly with the payload onboard the aircraft. ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200206. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18926651&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Weather report (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18928152&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Metars-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18927695&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photograph-Rel.pdf - Except from MVP-50T engine monitor data download (item 4, CSV, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18928251&FileExtension=csv&FileName=MVP-50T%20Engine%20Monitor%20Data%20Download%20Excerpt-Rel.csv - Memorandum for the record - airplane manufacturer representative takeoff performance calculations (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 247 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18927917&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-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.