Air Tractor INC AT-402B accident near Gum Neck, North Carolina, August 17, 2012
On August 17, 2012 at about 2:00 pm local time, a Air Tractor INC AT-402B, registered N5127T, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Gum Neck, North Carolina (Private 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 airplane control during the takeoff roll. Contributing to the accident was the rough condition of the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 17, 2012 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Gum Neck, North Carolina · Private · 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-402B · all AT-402Bs on the register
- Registration
- N5127T · no longer on the register · serial 402B-1022
- 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 reported that he was taking off from an 80-foot-wide, rough grass airstrip to conduct an aerial application flight. During the takeoff roll, the airplane began to bounce and drift to the right. The airplane’s right wing contacted the adjacent corn crop, and the airplane veered further right into the corn field, where it nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot stated that he did not experience any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
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 on ground during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- factor Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Rough terrain › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 16,800 hours in all; 8,000 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 16,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 30, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,290 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 20, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 9,170 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-15AC (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Tim Whitfield Aviation INC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Gum Neck NC
- Destination: NONE Gum Neck NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 2,600 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 1:55 pm from FFA, 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.