# NTSB ERA26LA195: Air Tractor AT-602, N602RH, Bealeton, VA, May 1, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: May 1, 2026, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Bealeton, VA · farm field adjacent Rt 17 and Richie Road
- Coordinates: 38.54371, -77.729908 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5437&lon=-77.7299&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: Air Tractor, P&W CA, FAA FSDO, Transport Safety Board of Canada
- NTSB case key (mKey): 202924
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA195
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202924/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA195

## Preliminary report

On May 1, 2026, at 1230 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N602RH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bealeton, Virginia. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. The pilot reported that he was conducting an aerial application flight over a farm field and had completed previous passes uneventfully. During his last pass, the propeller blades moved uncommanded into the feather position, which resulted in a loss of thrust. The airplane was at a low altitude, and the pilot could only maneuver to a short field to make a forced landing. Upon touchdown, the pilot intentionally ground looped the airplane to avoid overrunning the field. The airplane’s landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage was substantially damaged. The airplane’s engine continued to operate with the propeller rotating until it was shut down. The wreckage was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md)
- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Air Tractor AT-602, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=0390309), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N602RH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N602RH), registered now, S/N 602-0627, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-602](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-602) (registry code 0390309) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 602-0627
- Year built: 2001
- Airframe hours: 7484
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Eastern Aviation LLC, doing business as Matt Crabbe Aviation
- Registered owner: Mid Atlantic Ag LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 2, 2026, 38 hours before
- Departed: HWY, Warrenton, VA
- Destination: 5VA4, Manquin, VA
- Airport: 3VA3

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observed at: KHWY, 2 nm away
- METAR: METAR KHWY 011635Z AUTO 18004KT 10SM CLR 18/M01 A2995

## 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 20260501005199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260501005199A), May 1, 2026: Air Tractor Inc AT-602, Bealeton, VA, Substantial damage. Pilot was performing aerial application to a farm field. During a run across the field at about 100', saw a puff of smoke out of the left exhaust stack and the…

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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