Air Tractor AT602 accident near Knobel, Arkansas, June 7, 2010
On June 7, 2010 at about 11:20 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT602, registered N4184P, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Knobel, Arkansas. 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 did not maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering at low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2010 · about 11:20 pm local time
- Place
- Knobel, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT602
- Registration
- N4184P · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane had departed on an aerial application flight to apply fertilizer to a nearby rice field. A witness said the airplane made a pass over the field and pitched up to reverse direction for another pass. The airplane then descended and disappeared behind a row of trees. The witness did not see the airplane impact but did hear it hit the ground. A postcrash examination of the airplane at the accident scene indicated that the airplane descended and struck the ground in a near vertical attitude. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any anomalies indicative of any systems problems prior to the accident.
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
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action performance › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 525 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 282 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 29, 2010; 86 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney Canada PT6A-60AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Baylee Company Inc
The flight
- Departed from: 4M9 Corning AR at 10:45 pm
- Destination: 4M9 Corning AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from ARG, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.