Air Tractor INC AT-802 accident near Brad, Texas, July 4, 2024
On July 4, 2024 at about 7:30 pm local time, a 2022 Air Tractor INC AT-802, registered N983LA, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Brad, Texas. It was a firefighting 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after encountering a large boat wake.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 4, 2024 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Brad, Texas · 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-802, built 2022 · all AT-802s on the register
- Registration
- N983LA · registry record · serial 802-0983
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Firefighting flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing firefighting activity at the time of the accident. He reported that after scooping a load of water and applying takeoff power, the airplane encountered a large boat wake which caused it to become airborne. However, the pilot did not have sufficient flight control authority to counter act the engine torque. The left float contacted the water, and the airplane veered to the left. The left-wing spar was damaged during the impact sequence. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions before the accident that would have precluded normal airplane 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 in flight during takeoff defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface › Choppy surface › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: gyroplane; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: balloon; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 30,000 hours in all; 150 in this make and model; 25,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 3, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 228 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 6, 2024; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 16,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-67F (turboprop); 240 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MWL Mineral Wells TX at 7:00 pm
- Destination: MWL Mineral Wells TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 7 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 2:35 pm from KRPH, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRPH 041935Z AUTO 10007G17KT 10SM FEW065 36/20 A2987
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN24LA255.