Air Tractor INC AT-502B accident near Tillar, Arkansas, July 3, 2013
On July 3, 2013 at about 7:50 pm local time, a 1998 Air Tractor INC AT-502B, registered N5182C, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Tillar, Arkansas (Tillar Airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine throttle control during takeoff due to an unsecured cockpit throttle control pin, which resulted in a runway overrun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 3, 2013 · about 7:50 pm local time
- Place
- Tillar, Arkansas · Tillar Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-502B, built 1998 · all AT-502Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5182C · no longer on the register · serial 502B-0499
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, the airplane sustained a partial loss of engine power and overran the runway after the pilot lost cockpit throttle control. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a throttle control pin lying on the cockpit floor. A cotter pin for the throttle control pin was missing; the length of time it had been missing could not be determined.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during takeoff defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Power lever › Failure
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Powerplant parameters › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 11,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 18, 2013
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Confederate Air Inc
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Tillar AR at 7:50 pm
- Destination: PVT Tillar AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,200 ft by 85 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from LLQ, 15 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.
Other NTSB records under N5182C the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.