Air Tractor AT-602 accident near Magee, Mississippi, June 14, 2009
On June 14, 2009 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-602, registered N5202U, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Magee, Mississippi (Magee 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
A total loss of engine power after takeoff for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2009 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Magee, Mississippi · Magee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-602
- Registration
- N5202U · no longer on the register · serial 602-0542
- 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 departing on an agricultural flight. As the airplane climbed to approximately 25 feet above the runway, it experienced a total loss of engine power, and the left wing dropped. The airplane subsequently impacted the ground, which caused the empennage and the main landing gear to separate. The pilot exited the airplane before a postcrash fire consumed the cockpit and a portion of the right wing. Postaccident disassembly and inspection of the engine assembly and testing of accessory components did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. The airplane's most recent annual inspection was performed almost 1 year prior to the accident. The engine had accumulated about 7,000 hours since new, and 300 hours since the annual inspection.
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 engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 8,200 hours in all; 600 in this make and model; 450 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 8,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 19, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,000 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2008; 300 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-60AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Thrash Aviation
The flight
- Departed from: 17M Magee MS at 10:25 pm
- Destination: 17M Magee MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,104 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,900 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 10:54 pm from JAN, 30 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.