Air Tractor AT-502B accident near Balsas, Br, November 9, 2015
On November 9, 2015 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-502B, registered PRRSA, was destroyed in an accident near Balsas (Balsas Airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under non-U.S. private rules. 1 person was killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 9, 2015 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Balsas, Brazil · Balsas Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502B
- Registration
- PRRSA · no longer on the register · serial 502B-2679
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · non-U.S. private rules
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On November 11, 2015, about 1930 universal coordinated time, an Air Tractor AT502B, Brazilian registration PR-RSA, was destroyed when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Balsas Airport, Balsas Brazil. The pilot was fatally injured. The flight was conducted under Brazilian flight regulations. This accident investigation is under the jurisdiction of the Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation Center (CENIPA) of Brazil. Any further information pertaining to this accident may be obtained from: Aeronautical Accident Prevention and Investigation Center Investigation Division CENIPA SHIS - QI 05-VI Comar Brasilia-DF, Brazil 71.615-600 Telephone: (55-61) 3364-8800 Fax: (55-61) 3365-1004 dipaa.spai@cenipa.aer.mil.br
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
- Unknown or undetermined during unknown defining event
Pilot
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: SNBS Balsas
- Destination: SNBS Balsas
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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 NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.