Air Tractor AT602 accident near Back Gate, Arkansas, March 13, 2008
On March 13, 2008 at about 12:15 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT602, registered N602KP, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Back Gate, Arkansas. 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 directional control of the aircraft. A contributing factor was the wet, grass runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 2008 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Back Gate, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT602
- Registration
- N602KP · no longer on the register · serial 602-0421
- 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 commercial pilot had completed an aerial application flight and was returning for the second load. During the landing on a private grass airstrip, the tailwheel-equipped airplane started to slide. The pilot stated that the grass was wet from the morning dew, and that he could not get the airplane to stop. The airplane subsequently slid into a small levy and culvert, resulting in separation of the left main landing gear. The airplane received substantial damage and came to rest in the inverted position.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Glassy › Not specified
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Wet › Not specified
- factor Environmental issues › Operating environment › Airport facilities/design › Runway/landing area condition › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 9,905 hours in all; 5,500 in this make and model; 124 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: March 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Back Gate AR
- Destination: Back Gate AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.