Air Tractor INC AT 502B accident near Basile, Louisiana, May 5, 2015
On May 5, 2015 at about 5:41 pm local time, a 2009 Air Tractor INC AT 502B, registered N4221G, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Basile, Louisiana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’ failure to maintain adequate clearance from trees while maneuvering during an aerial application flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 5, 2015 · about 5:41 pm local time
- Place
- Basile, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT 502B, built 2009 · all AT 502Bs on the register
- Registration
- N4221G · no longer on the register · serial 502B-2668
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The operator reported that the pilot was applying dry, granular fertilizer to a rice field. During the last application pass, the airplane's left wing struck trees. The airplane then struck several additional trees, traveled about 550 ft, and impacted terrain. A postimpact fire ensued and subsequently consumed a majority of the airplane. Although the wreckage was significantly fragmented and damaged by fire, no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airframe or engine were noted that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the accident site and wreckage revealed tree strikes and left wing damage that were consistent with the pilot's failing to maintain clearance from the trees while maneuvering at a low altitude.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Awareness of condition
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: December 24, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,083 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 18, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 9,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-34AG (turboprop); 3,038 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Lejeune Aerial Applications LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Basile LA at 5:20 pm
- Destination: Basile LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 5:55 pm from OPL, 18 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 N4221G 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.