Air Tractor AT602 accident near Decatur, Illinois, July 12, 2024
On July 12, 2024 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 1999 Air Tractor AT602, registered N528JC, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Decatur, Illinois (Decatur airport). It was a positioning 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 inability to maintain directional control during the landing roll due to the malfunction of the tail wheel locking mechanism.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2024 · about 7:00 pm local time · cases in 2024
- Place
- Decatur, Illinois · Decatur · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT602, built 1999
- Registration
- N528JC · registry record · serial 602-05287
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Positioning flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that the tailwheel became unlocked on landing. The airplane drifted to the left, exited the runway, and ground looped which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A post-accident examination revealed that the tailwheel lock pin was not engaged, although the cockpit handle was in the locked position. The cable was continuous from the cockpit handle to the locking mechanism, however, multiple attempts to move the tailwheel locking pin by manipulating the handle were unsuccessful. The pin became unstuck when it was assisted into position using a striking tool. Subsequent attempts to lock the tailwheel from the cockpit were successful and the mechanism functioned normally.
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 landing (landing roll)
- Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power) during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Malfunction other cases naming the landing gear
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 22,000 hours in all; 305 in this make and model; 67 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 17,250 as pilot in command; 2,123 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 8, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-65AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Farm Air, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: IS08 Summum IL at 6:25 pm
- Destination: DEC Decatur IL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 5,298 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,900 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 1:54 pm from KDEC
Weather report (METAR): KDEC 121854Z 11004KT 10SM FEW039 29/22 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP188 T02940217
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 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 November 8, 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, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� FAA Exam | 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.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N528JC on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT-6A-65AG 2,218 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Decatur Airport · nearest airport
- Curless Airport · departed from
- Accidents and incidents in Illinois 2,118 since 1982 · 251 in the last ten years
- Illinois 8,067 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN24LA261.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.