Air Tractor Inc. AT-502 accident near Shannon, Illinois, July 20, 2013
On July 20, 2013 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Air Tractor Inc. AT-502, registered N502MH, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Shannon, Illinois (Sneek 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 pilot’s inability to maintain an adequate climb rate after encountering a sudden wind shift during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 20, 2013 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Shannon, Illinois · Sneek 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-502
- Registration
- N502MH · registry record · serial 502-0164
- 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 pilot reported that he had completed three uneventful aerial application flights on the day of the accident; however, shortly after lifting off for the fourth flight, the airplane encountered a sudden wind shear and was unable to climb out of ground effect. The airplane descended from an altitude of 10-12 feet above the ground into the corn crop located off the end of runway. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A review of available wind data indicated that calm wind conditions prevailed throughout the morning; however, a shift to a northwest wind occurred about the time of the accident, which would have resulted in a tailwind and a reduced climb gradient.
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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
- Collision during takeoff/land during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Ability to respond/compensate
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Attain/maintain not possible
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 14,979 hours in all; 320 in this make and model; 160 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 14,959 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 8, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,075 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 10, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Woodley Aerial Spray Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: 2IL0 Shannon IL at 2:45 pm
- Destination: 2IL0 Shannon IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,640 ft by 125 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from KFEP, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on August 5, 2013. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Weather Information | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.