Air Tractor AT502 accident near Bunkie, Louisiana, May 23, 2020
On May 23, 2020 at about 8:59 pm local time, a 2005 Air Tractor AT502, registered N571LA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Bunkie, Louisiana (Bunkie Flying Service 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 pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 23, 2020 · about 8:59 pm local time
- Place
- Bunkie, Louisiana · Bunkie Flying Service · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT502 B, built 2005
- Registration
- N571LA · no longer on the register · serial 502B-2571
- 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 stated that during takeoff, when he pushed the control stick forward to raise the tail of the airplane, the airplane went to the left. He tried to correct back to the right but was unsuccessful. In an effort to prevent an accident, he decided to attempt the takeoff and became airborne briefly before the wheels impacted the sugarcane field. The airplane nosed over and sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. He stated that he was wearing a helmet and only received minor injuries during the accident. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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 on ground during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney PT-6A (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Gypsy Air Inc
The flight
- Departed from: 2LA4 Bunkie LA
- Destination: 2LA4 Bunkie LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on July 24, 2020. 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.
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.