Air Tractor INC AT-802 accident near Gilman City, Missouri, August 8, 2023
On August 8, 2023 at about 4:50 pm local time, a 2017 Air Tractor INC AT-802, registered N804AA, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Gilman City, Missouri. 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 exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and failure to maintain adequate airspeed during a steep turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for recovery.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 2023 · about 4:50 pm local time
- Place
- Gilman City, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-802, built 2017 · all AT-802s on the register
- Registration
- N804AA · registry record · serial 802-0698
- 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 conducting an aerial application flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was about ½ mile from the target field when witnesses saw it enter a steep turn, roll over, and spin to the ground. The airplane impacted terrain and a postimpact fire consumed part of the airplane. Examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine exhibited signs of rotation during impact. The propeller blades exhibited bending and twisting damage consistent with impact while rotating at moderate-to-high power and producing thrust at initial impact. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack during a turn and the airplane entered an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for recovery.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 500 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,732 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 26, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 16,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Rice Flying LLC
The flight
- Departed from: TRX Trenton MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 5 knots
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 am from KCDJ, 22 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KCDJ 081651Z AUTO 25005KT 26/18 A3001 RMK AO1 SLP151 T02610183
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on November 21, 2024. 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 | NTSB On-scene Investigation Summary | PDF, 10 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | NTSB Follow-up Examination Summary | PDF, 11 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Map of the Target Field | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum for Record A�� Witness Interviews | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Reports from Parties to the Investigation - Air Tractor Report | PDF, 13 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Toxicological Report | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 9 | Electronic Device - Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 10 | FAA Type Rating Exemption Letter - AT-802 | PDF, 10 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 11 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 12 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
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.