Air Tractor INC AT-502B accident near Olney, Texas, April 24, 2024
On April 24, 2024 at about 11:52 pm local time, a 1995 Air Tractor INC AT-502B, registered N6108L, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Olney, Texas (Olney Muni airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 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 directional control of the airplane during landing in gusty wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 24, 2024 · about 11:52 pm local time
- Place
- Olney, Texas · Olney Muni · 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-502B, built 1995 · all AT-502Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6108L · registry record · serial 502B-0289
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he was completing a practice flight in an airplane which he had 3 hours of total flight experience. While on short final a gust of wind lifted the right wing, the airplane veered left, and he was unable to maintain control. The airplane landed hard in a field next to the runway and sustained substantial damage to the left and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident the pilot was landing on runway 17. The nearest weather station recorded wind from 120° at 8 knots and gusts to 15 knots.
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
- Other weather encounter during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: powered-lift
- Flight time: 372.7 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 25.6 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 345.9 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 10, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17/3, 5,101 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 8 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KRPH, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRPH 242355Z AUTO 12008G15KT 100V160 10SM BKN060 25/19 A2998 RMK AO2 T02510191
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 13, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Correspondence - Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | 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 N6108L 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.