Air Tractor 402 accident near Mayersville, Mississippi, September 21, 1996
On September 21, 1996 at about 8:15 pm local time, a Air Tractor 402, registered N1517G, was substantially damaged in an accident near Mayersville, Mississippi. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's misjudgment of his ground speed and distance to trees during the swath run, and his delayed pull-up at the end of the swath run, which resulted in his failure to remain clear of the trees. The tail wind and location of the trees were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 21, 1996 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mayersville, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor 402
- Registration
- N1517G · no longer on the register · serial 4020834
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At the end of a spray run, the airplane collided with trees, located in a densely wooded area, adjacent to the field being treated. According to the pilot's partner, the swath run was flown with a tailwind of about eight knots. The treated field was about 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile in length. The aircraft manufacturer noted that in turbinr powered the airplane, spray runs were typically conducted at speeds of about 150 to 170 knots.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 11,461 hours in all; 1,030 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 120 in the last 30 days; 11,402 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,333 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 14, 1996; 445 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 7,860 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-27 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Glen Allan MS at 7:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,300 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:50 pm from GLH, 45 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.