Air Tractor AT 602 accident near Bismarck, Illinois, July 13, 2018
On July 13, 2018 at about 11:15 pm local time, a 2001 Air Tractor AT 602, registered N629LA, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Bismarck, Illinois. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of control 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
- July 13, 2018 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Bismarck, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT 602 No Series, built 2001
- Registration
- N629LA · no longer on the register · serial 6020629
- 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 was conducting an aerial application flight; a witness saw the airplane maneuvering before entering a flat spin. Ground scars at accident site were consistent with a wings- and nose-level impact attitude. Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies. The airplane was not equipped with an elevator down-spring or rudder-aileron interconnect system. According to the manufacturer, these systems were required and improved the stability and handling characteristics of the airplane. Although the circumstances of the accident are consistent with a stall/spin and loss of control, the reason for the loss of control could not be determined based on the available information; and whether the lack of the elevator down-spring and rudder-aileron interconnect systems contributed to the loss of control was not determined.
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 control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,026 hours in all; 125 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,387 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 29, 2018
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-45R (turboprop); 6,389 hours total
- Operator: Aero Charter Express
The flight
- Departed from: DNV Danville IL at 10:45 pm
- Destination: DNV Danville IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from DNV, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on March 31, 2021. 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 Witness Observation Summary CEN18LA270 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for the Record Airframe Examination Findings CEN18LA270 | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | AT-602 Flight Controls Schematics CEN18LA270 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for the Record Engine Examination Findings CEN19LA270 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Police Report CEN18LA270 | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Photo Array CEN18LA270 | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Memorandum for the Record Logbooks Pilot Information and NTSB Form 6120 CEN18LA270 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 8 | Ait Tractor Party Certification Form CEN18LA270 | 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.
Other NTSB records under N629LA 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.