Air Tractor AT502 accident near Placedo, Texas, October 12, 2018
On October 12, 2018 at about 11:31 pm local time, a 1995 Air Tractor AT502, registered N6135P, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Placedo, Texas (Private airport). 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's failure to maintain clearance from the antenna tower, a known obstruction, during the agricultural application flight. Contributing to the accident was glare from the sun which hindered the pilot's ability to see and avoid the antenna tower.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 12, 2018 · about 11:31 pm local time
- Place
- Placedo, Texas · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT502 B, built 1995
- Registration
- N6135P · no longer on the register · serial 502B-0286
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying at a low altitude during an agricultural application flight when the airplane impacted a radio antenna tower. The airplane struck the main antenna near the top of the structure, separating the upper section of the tower. A representative of the operator reported that the accident flight was the first time the pilot had sprayed that particular field, which was located about 1/2-mile from the antenna. The pilot had reviewed satellite imagery before the flight in order to identify potential hazards and was aware of power lines running along the south edge of the field and the proximity of the antenna. A witness reported that the airplane appeared to be level and flying along a road in the direction of the antenna. A second witness reported hearing the airplane fly over followed by the sound of the impact with the antenna tower. He subsequently observed the airplane descending toward the ground. The airplane came to rest near the antenna tower along the two-lane road. The road was oriented toward the west-southwest which was nearly in line with the setting sun. The upper section of the antenna tower was intertwined with the right wing of the airplane at the accident site. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a postimpact fire. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. The antenna tower was marked in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration recommendations. Weather conditions were good at the time of the accident with 10 miles visibility and no obscuration or precipitation. The sun was positioned about 6°above the horizon to the west-southwest. The accident occurred about 30 minutes before sunset. It is likely that the pilot lost situational awareness relative to the antenna tower due to the close proximity of the application field, the power lines, and the antenna tower. In addition, the position of the sun at the time of the accident likely hindered the pilot's ability to see and avoid the antenna tower.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during enroute defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during enroute
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Glare › Effect on personnel
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tower/antenna (incl guy wires) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 6,687 hours in all; 2,102 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 24, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,428 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 14, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG (turboprop); 12,618 hours total
- Operator: Coastal Flying Service Inc
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Ganado TX at 10:30 pm
- Destination: PVT Ganado TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,100 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from VCT, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
11 documents, released by the NTSB on September 19, 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 | Accident Site & Wreckage Diagram | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Witness Statements | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Photos | PDF, 17 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Airplane Examination Summary | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Qualification for Agricultural Aircraft Operations | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Fcc Antenna Tower Information | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Weather Documentation -- Victoria Airport (Kvt) | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Sun and Moon Data -- Victoria, Texas | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 11 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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 N6135P 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.