Air Tractor INC AT 502 accident near Tahoka, Texas, May 4, 2017
On May 4, 2017 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1989 Air Tractor INC AT 502, registered N144HF, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Tahoka, Texas (T-Bar Airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The partial loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 4, 2017 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tahoka, Texas · T-Bar Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT 502 UNDESIGNAT, built 1989 · all AT 502s on the register
- Registration
- N144HF · no longer on the register · serial 502-0068
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot of the aerial application flight reported that he had flown several flights in the morning and the airplane was operating normally. Before the final flight of the day, while the airplane was being loaded with product, he heard a noise, but all engine gauges appeared normal. He taxied down the runway and took off. About 30 ft above the ground, the airplane started making more noise and the engine was surging. The pilot attempted to add more power, but the engine did not respond. As the pilot was about to dump the chemical load, the airplane veered to the left and impacted the ground. After the pilot exited the airplane, a postcrash fire ensued. Detailed examination of the engine was not possible due to the severe fire damage.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › (general) › (general) › Failure
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all; 300 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,090 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 30, 2016; 300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 5,280 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-A-34AG (turboprop); 10,255 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: 2F4 Tahoka TX at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 2F4 Tahoka TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 3,278 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.21 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from LBB, 35 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on December 31, 2019. 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 | Memorandum for the Record Pilot Statement CEN17LA190 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record FAA Inspector Findings CEN17LA190 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for the Record Witness Statements CEN17LA190 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo Array CEN17LA190 | 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.