Air Tractor INC AT-802A accident near Parsons, Tennessee, August 20, 2014
On August 20, 2014 at about 7:55 pm local time, a 1999 Air Tractor INC AT-802A, registered N802BB, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Parsons, Tennessee. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to see and avoid trees during a low-level aerial application operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 20, 2014 · about 7:55 pm local time
- Place
- Parsons, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-802A, built 1999 · all AT-802As on the register
- Registration
- N802BB · registry record · serial 802A-0079
- 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 applying chemicals to a soybean field when the airplane struck trees located at the edge of the field and then impacted the ground. Data from the onboard aerial spray operations computer revealed that the pilot was making spray passes to the east and west over the soybean field at low altitude and reversing course between each pass by making a left 180-degree turn. The data stopped before the tree impact; however, the wreckage path began just east of the north-south line of 50-ft-tall trees and was oriented to the east indicating the pilot was likely about to begin a spray pass to the east when the airplane impacted the trees. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of preexisting anomalies or malfunctions. The propeller blades exhibited signatures consistent with power at the time of impact, and several tree limbs were found along the debris path with smooth, 45-degree cuts. Toxicology testing and autopsy results on the pilot revealed no evidence of an incapacitating event.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Loss of control in flight during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,797 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, May 15, 2014
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney PT6-A-65AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Ag Air, LLC
The flight
- Departed from: PVE Parsons TN at 7:40 pm
- Destination: PVE Parsons TN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from MKL, 38 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.