Air Tractor INC AT 802A accident near Hunter, Arkansas, May 24, 2014
On May 24, 2014 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2008 Air Tractor INC AT 802A, registered N802KT, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Hunter, Arkansas (Rabbit Ridge Airstrip 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 downwind takeoff from a grass airstrip, which resulted in inadequate climb performance and the subsequent impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2014 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hunter, Arkansas · Rabbit Ridge Airstrip · 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 802A A, built 2008 · all AT 802As on the register
- Registration
- N802KT · no longer on the register · serial 802A-0310
- 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 the agriculture airplane was loaded with about 5,000 pounds of fertilizer and ¾ tank of fuel; he planned to depart a private grass airstrip which was about 2,600 feet long. The pilot departed the runway to the north, and the airplane's landing gear impacted a levee at the end of the runway. Once the landing gear impacted the levee, the airplane would not gain altitude and the pilot conducted a forced landing in an adjacent field. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage during the landing. The pilot reported there were no preimpact abnormalities with the airplane and added that a gust of wind or whirlwind caused the airplane not to climb. About the time of the accident, the temperature was 87 degrees F with a southern wind about 5-10 knots. It's likely the downwind departure, degraded the loaded airplane's takeoff performance.
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 Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Capability exceeded
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High temperature › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wall/barricade › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,218.1 hours in all; 849.7 in this make and model; 3,168.1 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 2014; 2,973 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Witney PT6a (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Pvt Hunter AR
- Destination: Pvt Hunter AR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 160° at 5 knots, gusting 11
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 18, 2014. 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 | PDF, 7 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Area Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Site Overview | 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.