Air Tractor INC AT-502 accident near Gibson, Arkansas, June 5, 2025
On June 5, 2025 at about 11:37 pm local time, a 1990 Air Tractor INC AT-502, registered N45113, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Gibson, Arkansas (Private Strip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s loss of control during takeoff due to an encounter with a sudden wind shift.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2025 · about 11:37 pm local time
- Place
- Gibson, Arkansas · Private Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-502, built 1990 · all AT-502s on the register
- Registration
- N45113 · registry record · serial 502-0094
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was attempting to takeoff for a local aerial application flight. During his flights that day, he had been monitoring a storm cell which was building to the south of the runway. He recalled that during his last landing, the windsock indicated a light wind; however, after reloading with fertilizer, he started the takeoff roll and noticed the 10-knot windsock was “completed inflated and whipping violently”. As he continued the takeoff, he felt the tail of the airplane being pushed by the wind, resulting in a back-and-forth motion. Despite being at a low speed (about 40 to 50 mph) and without pilot input, the force of the wind resulted in the airplane becoming airborne about 3 ft. The airplane then nosed down, tumbled, and came to rest inverted. He reported no mechanical malfunctions contributed to the accident, and he suspected the airplane encountered a downdraft or microburst. A review of weather information found an area of convective weather within 10 nautical miles south-southwest of the airstrip. FAA Advisory Circular 00-24C Thunderstroms highlights that within 20 miles of a severe thunderstorm the potential exists for low-level wind shear or microburst.
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
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Sudden wind shift › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Convective weather › Thunderstorm › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,186 hours in all; 1,663 in this make and model; 75 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: February 24, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 2,400 ft by 25 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KJBR, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KJBR 052253Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM FEW048 31/23 A2994 RMK AO2 LTG DSNT SW SLP135 T03110228 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
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.