Air Tractor AT-402 accident near Carlsbad, New Mexico, April 25, 2008
On April 25, 2008 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-402, registered N402SK, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Carlsbad, New Mexico (Seven Rivers 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 improper decision to takeoff uphill with full fuel and fuel chemical load. A factor was the pilot's failure to calculate performance data.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 25, 2008 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Carlsbad, New Mexico · Seven Rivers Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-402
- Registration
- N402SK · registry record · serial 402-0895
- 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 15,600 hour commercial rated pilot was initiating the first aerial application flight of the day and decided to make the takeoff with a full fuel load and full hopper of chemicals on an upslope runway. The airplane was not able to establish an initial climb and began to settle back to the ground. The pilot attempted to dump the chemical load, but was unsuccessful and the airplane impacted the ground and cart wheeled, coming to rest in the upright position. The pilot was not injured and was able to exit the aircraft unassisted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, landing gear, engine case, propellers, and empennage. Weather reported at the time of the accident was winds 340 degrees at 23 knots gusting to 28 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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › (general) › Not specified
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Performance calculations › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 15,600 hours in all; 4,800 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,462 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 8,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-15AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 62NM Carlsbad NM at 2:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 3,210 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 23 knots, gusting 28
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 8:10 am from KATS, 15 miles away
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.