Air Tractor AT802 accident near Atlantic Ocean, Ca, April 29, 2025
On April 29, 2025 at about 8:40 am local time, a 2025 Air Tractor AT802, registered N4025K, was destroyed in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Atlantic Ocean. It was a ferry flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s impact with the ocean for undetermined reasons based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 29, 2025 · about 8:40 am local time
- Place
- Atlantic Ocean, Canada · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- instrument conditions (cloud, fog or low visibility)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT802 A, built 2025
- Registration
- N4025K · no longer on the register · serial 802A-1187
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Ferry flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The float equipped airplane was en route on a ferry flight from St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, to Santa Maria, Portugal, when 130 nautical miles east-southeast of St. John’s, the airplane disappeared from radar over the Atlantic Ocean. An emergency locator transmitter was activated shortly after. Search and rescue assets discovered one of the two pontoons, a plastic container containing a backpack, a seat cushion, and an empty life raft floating on the ocean surface in the vicinity where the airplane went missing. An oil slick was also observed on the water next to the pontoon. The search continued through the following day. The airplane and pilot have not been located. ADS-B information showed the airplane took off and climbed to approximately 6,000 ft msl and proceeded on an easterly heading. About 21 minutes into the flight, the pilot reported picking up ice and requested a higher altitude. He was cleared and climbed to 7,000 ft. About 35 minutes into the flight, the airplane made a slight right turn and proceeded east-southeast. About 1 hour and 6 minutes into the flight, the airplane began a 2,000 ft/min. descent to the ocean surface. Just before reaching the surface, the airplane made a 180o turn toward the west. ADS-B data ended 1 hour and 10 minutes after takeoff.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during enroute (cruise)
- Missing aircraft during unknown defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1.2 hours in all; 1.2 in this make and model; 1.2 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Unknown
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 19 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 29, 2025
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney, Canada PT6A-65AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: CYYT St. John'S OF
- Destination: LPAZ Santa Maria OF
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 045° at 26 knots
- Temperature: 30°F (-1°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.58 inHg
- Observation at 8:12 am from CYYT, 130 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 7 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Right Pontoon and Oil Slick
Photograph 2 – ADS-B Graphic Depiction
Photograph 3 – N4025K
Photograph 4 – ADS-B Plots
Photograph 5 – Recovered Right Pontoon
Photograph 6 - Recovered Liferaft
Photograph 7 – Liferaft InformationThe 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
17 documents, released by the NTSB on August 12, 2025. 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.
Other NTSB records under N4025K 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.