Air Tractor INC AT 502B accident near Colusa, Illinois, August 27, 2014
On August 27, 2014 at about 5:15 pm local time, a 2008 Air Tractor INC AT 502B, registered N369AB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Colusa, Illinois (Douglas 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 did not maintain control of the airplane during takeoff from a grass strip. Contributing was the airplane being loaded beyond its capability for the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2014 · about 5:15 pm local time
- Place
- Colusa, Illinois · Douglas · 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 B, built 2008 · all AT 502Bs on the register
- Registration
- N369AB · registry record · serial 502B-2653
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, prior to departure the airplane's hopper was "packed full" of seed. He taxied to the turf runway which was soft from recent rain and began the takeoff. The airplane rolled farther down the runway than the previous runs that day so he extended the flaps and the airplane became airborne. Just past the departure end of the runway, the landing gear dragged through the bean plants. The airplane flew another 50 yards until it began to settle into the field; the right wing contacted the beans and the airplane impacted terrain. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the right wing. The owner stated that the airplane was not loaded beyond the maximum gross weight; it was loaded to 7,000 lbs and the maximum gross weight was 8,000 lbs. It is likely that the airplane was too heavy to operate on the runway and the climb performance was decreased.
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
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Maximum weight › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › Climb capability › Attain/maintain not possible
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Soft › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,564 hours in all; 37 in this make and model; 313 in the last 90 days; 98 in the last 30 days; 1,416 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 25, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,219 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 20, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IL84 Colusa IL at 5:15 pm
- Destination: IL84 Colusa IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 2,300 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from KFSW, 11 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.