Thrush Aircraft INC S2RHG-T65 and Air Tractor INC AT-802A accident near Alicia, Arkansas, May 25, 2012
On May 25, 2012 at about 11:45 am local time, 2 aircraft, Thrush Aircraft INC S2RHG-T65 (N40475) and Air Tractor INC AT-802A (N389LA), were involved in the same accident near Alicia, Arkansas (Private Airstrip airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot of the Thrush did not execute a go-around prior to landing, which resulted in excessive ground speed after touchdown, and his subsequent loss of directional control, which resulted in a collision with the Air Tractor.
The pilot of the Thrush did not execute a go-around prior to landing, which resulted in excessive ground speed after touchdown, and his subsequent loss of directional control, which resulted in a collision with the Air Tractor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 25, 2012 · about 11:45 am local time · cases in 2012
- Place
- Alicia, Arkansas · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Thrush Aircraft INC S2RHG-T65 · all S2RHG-T65s on the register
- Registration
- N40475 · registry record · serial T65HG-014
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Air Tractor INC AT-802A · all AT-802As on the register
- Registration
- N389LA · registry record · serial 802A-0389
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Thrush Aircraft INC S2RHG-T65 final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following a loss of control during the landing roll, a Thrush agricultural airplane collided with an Air Tractor agricultural airplane that was parked about 50 to 75 feet off the runway with its engine operating waiting to takeoff. The pilot of the Thrush reported that the airplane was traveling too fast during touchdown so he attempted a go-around then realized that the engine would not respond quickly enough, and he aborted the go-around. He applied both brakes and put the propeller into reverse; however, the airplane started to veer off the left side of the runway. He applied right rudder and right brake in an attempt to regain directional control but was unsuccessful and hit the Air Tractor. The Thrush pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or system failures of the Thrush.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Air Tractor INC AT-802A final · quoted from the NTSB record
Following a loss of control during the landing roll, a Thrush agricultural airplane collided with an Air Tractor agricultural airplane that was parked about 50 to 75 feet off the runway with its engine operating waiting to takeoff. The pilot of the Thrush reported that the airplane was traveling too fast during touchdown so he attempted a go-around then realized that the engine would not respond quickly enough, and he aborted the go-around. He applied both brakes and put the propeller into reverse; however, the airplane started to veer off the left side of the runway. He applied right rudder and right brake in an attempt to regain directional control but was unsuccessful and hit the Air Tractor. The Thrush pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or system failures of the Thrush.
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 for the Thrush Aircraft INC S2RHG-T65 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,400 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 50 in the last 30 days; 4,200 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 10, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,372 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 5, 2012
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: J & R Flying Service LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Alicia AR at 11:30 am
- Destination: Alicia AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 2,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from JBR, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Air Tractor INC AT-802A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot of other aircraft
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Surface speed/braking › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,082 hours in all; 483 in this make and model; 90 in the last 90 days; 41 in the last 30 days; 2,047 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 4, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 410 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2012
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-65AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: J & R Flying Service LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Alicia AR
- Destination: Alicia AR
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N40475 on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Thrush Aircraft Inc S-2 102 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- N389LA on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Air Tractor Inc AT-802 687 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Engine: P&W PT6A SER 2,217 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-65AG 430 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Arkansas 1,582 since 1982 · 176 in the last ten years
- Arkansas 3,492 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN12LA323.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.