Air Tractor INC AT-602 accident near Nappanee, Indiana, July 6, 2021
On July 6, 2021 at about 11:54 pm local time, a 2011 Air Tractor INC AT-602, registered N602RE, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Nappanee, Indiana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the tower during low-level agricultural operations.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 6, 2021 · about 11:54 pm local time
- Place
- Nappanee, Indiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-602, built 2011 · all AT-602s on the register
- Registration
- N602RE · registry record · serial 602-1200
- 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 while spraying for mosquitos, the airplane’s right wing struck an unmarked tower. The pilot flew the airplane back to the departure airport, during which the right wing stalled when the airplane slowed for landing. The airplane then ground looped. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing skin during the in-flight collision with the tower. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure of the airplane 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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Flight crew
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tower/antenna (incl guy wires) › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 11,428 hours in all; 606 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 11, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,927 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 14, 2021
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Agriflight Services Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: II74 Wakarusa IN
- Destination: II74 Wakarusa IN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from SBN, 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
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 5, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Damage Photo | 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.