Air Tractor INC AT-502 accident near Larose, Louisiana, March 1, 2026
On March 1, 2026 at about 5:42 pm local time, a 1997 Air Tractor INC AT-502, registered N5063N, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Larose, Louisiana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) 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 improper fuel planning and his failure to adequately monitor the fuel level during flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion, and a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of attention performing the task, which led to a loss of situational awareness.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 1, 2026 · about 5:42 pm local time
- Place
- Larose, Louisiana · 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-502 B, built 1997 · all AT-502s on the register
- Registration
- N5063N · registry record · serial 502B-0471
- 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 of the aerial application airplane applied the liquid chemical load to a field of sugarcane. The airplane was returning to the private airstrip with an empty hopper when a total loss of engine power occurred. The pilot performed a forced landing to a wooded area. The airplane came to rest upright, and the pilot was able to egress from the airplane without further incident. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to both wings. During the airplane recovery operation, less than two gallons of Jet A fuel were recovered from the two wing fuel tanks and the header fuel tank. The pilot reported that during the aerial application work, he lost track of the time, he spent more time in his low-level turns than needed, and the airplane ran out of fuel. The operator reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was not equipped with a low fuel warning light system, nor was it required to be. According to the airframe manufacturer, a low fuel warning light system is available for certain serial numbered airplanes, and the retrofit installation is encouraged in two of their previously released service letters.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing
- Evacuation during post (impact)
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid level
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid management
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Perception/orientation/illusion › Situational awareness › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Attention › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 633 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 40 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 554 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,674 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 23, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Old River Applicators LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Cut Off LA at 4:01 pm
- Destination: PVT Cut Off LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.19 inHg
- Observation at 11:35 am from KGAO, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KGAO 011735Z AUTO 11009G17KT 10SM CLR 23/14 A3019 RMK AO2 T02260137
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 6 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Overall view of the accident site
Photograph 2 – View of the front of the airplane at the accident site
Photograph 3 – View of the left side of the airplane at the accident site
Photograph 4 – View of the left wing at the accident site
Photograph 5 – View of the right side of the airplane at the accident site
Photograph 6 – View of the right wing at the accident siteThe 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
8 documents, released by the NTSB on April 30, 2026. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 7 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Old River Applicators Llc - Owner Record of Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Federal Aviation Administration - Inspector's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | N5063N (Air Tractor AT-502B) - Airplane Fuel System Information | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Air Tractor - Service Letter 178 Imbalance of Fuel in Fuel Tanks | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Air Tractor - Service Letter 178A Recommendations to Prevent Fuel Imbalance in Fuel Tanks for All Air Tractor Models | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 8 | National Agricultural Aviation Association - Fly Safe Message Manage Your Fuel to Avoid an Accident | 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.
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.