Air Tractor 402B accident near Taft, Texas, October 10, 2007
On October 10, 2007 at about 12:55 pm local time, a Air Tractor 402B, registered N5006K, was substantially damaged in an accident near Taft, Texas (Hunt'S Ag-Air airport). 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 failure to maintain control during takeoff. A contributing factor was the prevailing crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2007 · about 12:55 pm local time
- Place
- Taft, Texas · Hunt'S Ag-Air · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor 402B
- Registration
- N5006K · registry record · serial 402B-1024
- 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 640-hour commercial pilot, who reported having accumulated 10-hours in the same tailwheel equipped turboprop airplane, was attempting to depart from the 2,400-fot long, by 24-foot wide airstrip with a prevailing gusting crosswind. Shortly after takeoff from runway 03, the pilot was not able to compensate for the existing wind conditions and lost control of the airplane. The pilot responded with left rudder and aileron; however, the airplane continued to roll right until the right wing tip contacted the ground. The airplane subsequently cart-wheeled and came to rest in an upright position. The pilot was able to exited the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane revealed the left wing sustained structural damage. No pre-impact anomalies were found with the brakes, steering system or the airplane's flight controls. The winds at the time of the mishap were reported from 010 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 17 knots.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 640 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 35 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,970 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: HAA Taft TX at 7:55 am
- Destination: Taft TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 3, 2,400 ft by 24 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: from 010° at 9 knots, gusting 17
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.