Fatal NTSB investigations: Air Tractor AT-502B
28 cases on aircraft the registry lists as Air Tractor AT-502B. Aircraft are matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model, so older matches can be wrong.
Cases per year
| 1998 | 1 |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2026 | 1 |
Where
Open the mapLatest cases
Query with SQL
duckdb -csv -c "SELECT c.\"ntsbNumber\", c.\"eventDate\", c.\"eventType\", c.\"eventCity\", c.\"eventStateOrRegion\", a.n_number, a.\"aircraftMake\", a.\"aircraftModel\", c.\"highestInjuryLevel\", c.\"totalFatal\", c.\"completionStatus\", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c.\"mKey\" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c.\"highestInjuryLevel\" = 'Fatal'
AND c.\"mKey\" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('0390307'))
ORDER BY c.\"eventDate\" DESC, c.\"ntsbNumber\" DESC"Prints the whole list as CSV. It reads the release’s Parquet files over HTTPS, so there’s nothing to download first. Install DuckDB to run it.
SELECT c."ntsbNumber", c."eventDate", c."eventType", c."eventCity", c."eventStateOrRegion", a.n_number, a."aircraftMake", a."aircraftModel", c."highestInjuryLevel", c."totalFatal", c."completionStatus", c.report_url
FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_case_detail.parquet' c LEFT JOIN 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' a ON a.case_mkey = c."mKey" AND a.position = 1
WHERE c."highestInjuryLevel" = 'Fatal'
AND c."mKey" IN (SELECT x.case_mkey FROM 'https://openairdocs.org/data/latest/ntsb_aircrafts.parquet' x WHERE x.aircraft_model_code IN ('0390307'))
ORDER BY c."eventDate" DESC, c."ntsbNumber" DESCRun it at the DuckDB prompt, or in any tool that reads Parquet over HTTPS. More ways to query the release are on Use the data.
NTSB ANC26FA054Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldPreliminary reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Forbes, MOOn June 15, 2026, about 2015 Central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502B airplane, N503GK, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Forbes, Missouri. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of…NTSB CEN24FA260Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Bonita, LAThe failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other airplane while at low altitude enroute to their aerial application flights.NTSB WPR24FA201Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT-802 · Arco, IDA midair collision between two airplanes during aerial application operations due to both pilots’ insufficient awareness of their proximity to each other and their failure to see and avoid each other. Contributing to the accident was the operator and both…NTSB CEN24FA221Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Whiteface, TXBoth pilot’s failure to see and avoid the other airplane during simultaneous aerial application operations over the same area. Contributing to the accident was the operator’s poor decision to assign the pilots to conduct separate aerial application operations…NTSB CEN24FA021Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Vidalia, LAThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from power lines during an aerial application flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s cell phone use and the position of the sun, which reduced the pilot’s ability to perceive the location of the power…NTSB CEN23FA412Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · New Rockford, NDThe pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from overhead power lines during an aerial application flight. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to fly under the power lines with a small area of clearance available for the airplane.NTSB CEN21FA270Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor 502B · Paragould, ARAn inflight loss of control and subsequent impact with terrain during an aerial application flight for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.NTSB CEN20LA306Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Grant, NEThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering during an agricultural flight, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a loss of control at too low of an altitude to recover. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s…NTSB ERA20LA217Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Atmore, ALThe pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack while maneuvering at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall, spin, and loss of control.NTSB CEN19FA259Accident · 1 fatalClass 3 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Sumner, IAThe pilot’s impairment by medical conditions and/or medications, which resulted in the airplane’s impact with power lines and terrain.NTSB CEN19FA003Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Placedo, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the antenna tower, a known obstruction, during the agricultural application flight. Contributing to the accident was glare from the sun which hindered the pilot's ability to see and avoid the antenna tower.NTSB CEN18FA339Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Bronson, MIThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, an aerodynamic stall, and loss of control at an altitude too low for recovery.NTSB CEN18FA232Accident · 1 fatalClass 2 · FieldFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502B · Enid, OKThe pilot's failure to see and avoid a known obstacle (communications tower) during agricultural spraying operations.NTSB ERA17FA279Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT502 · Philipp, MSThe pilot's improper decision to attempt a visual flight rules flight in instrument meteorological conditions, below a low overcast ceiling, which resulted in controlled flight into terrain.NTSB CEN16LA312Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Hickory Ridge, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a transmission line while maneuvering at low altitude.NTSB WPR16FA148Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502B · Zamora, CAThe failure of both pilots to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in a midair collision. Also causal was the other pilot's use of two sedating antihistamines and two impairing medication and the effect of sun glare on his visual lookout, which…NTSB CEN15LA222Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502B · Basile, LAThe pilot’ failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.NTSB WPR15LA048Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502B · Somerton, AZA loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.NTSB CEN14LA211Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT 502B · Garfield, KSThe pilot’s inadequate preflight planning and subsequent failure to remain clear of power lines while maneuvering low to the ground.NTSB CEN11WA382Accident · 1 fatalForeign investigationAir Tractor AT-502B · La Fora, Tiquisate, GuatemalaNTSB DFW08LA143Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Wheatley, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, resulting in an inadvertent low-altitude aerodynamic stall.NTSB CHI05FA055Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportCessna T-37B · Hollister, OKThe pilots of the AT-502B and the T-37B failed to maintain adequate visual lookout and did not maintain clearance from the other aircraft. Contributing factors included the lack of a transponder and radios on the AT-502B, and the reduced visibility due to…NTSB FTW03LA223Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Farwell, TXThe pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering which resulted in an inadvertent stall.NTSB MIA03LA088Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor 502B · Belle Glade, FLThe failure of both pilots to use on-board communication radios to advise takeoff and landing intentions, the reduction of visibility of the pilot-in-command of N6037H due to sun glare during takeoff, and the poor in-flight planning by the pilot-in-command of…NTSB FTW02LA086Accident · 1 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT-502B · Extension, LAThe pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor was the pilot's impairment due to drugs.NTSB ATL01LA063Accident · 2 fatalLimited investigationFinal reportAir Tractor 502B · Anguilla, MSFailure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout, resulting in an in-flight collision. A factor was sun glare.NTSB CHI99FA267Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor AT502B · Giltner, NEThe pilot's inadequate visual lookout, and his failure to maintain clearance from the guy wire. A factor was the guy wire.NTSB FTW98FA100Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportAir Tractor 502B · Eudora, ARThe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while attempting an aerobatic manuever