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Accidents · NTSB ERA18FA088 · Final report

Air Tractor INC AT-802 accident near Greenwood, Mississippi, February 26, 2018

On February 26, 2018 at about 11:18 pm local time, a 2015 Air Tractor INC AT-802, registered N581LA, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Greenwood, Mississippi. 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 maintain clearance from a tree for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
February 26, 2018 · about 11:18 pm local time
Place
Greenwood, Mississippi · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person was killed.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Air Tractor INC AT-802 A, built 2015 · all AT-802s on the register
Registration
N581LA · registry record · serial 802A-0581
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 commercial pilot was conducting aerial application operations on two fields with which he was familiar. He completed the treatment of one field, which comprised three separate flights, then returned to the operator's facility, where the airplane was fueled and chemicals were loaded for the second field. After takeoff, the airplane proceeded to the field, where one witness noticed the airplane making spray passes from east to west, then heard what he described as two nearly simultaneous, "loud/hard" sounds similar to that of the sound of dynamite. A second witness reported hearing the sound of the impact; he did not hear any unusual sound from the airplane. There were no witnesses to the impact. The airplane's right wing impacted a tree about 40 ft above ground level while the airplane was flying in a left bank of less than 30°. The airplane then impacted the ground inverted about 515 ft from the tree. Examination of the engine, propeller, and flight controls revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Toxicology and autopsy of the pilot revealed no evidence of impairment or incapacitation. Based on the available information, the reason for the impact with the tree could not be determined.

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

  1. Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering defining event
  2. Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined

Pilot

  • Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
  • Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 12,500 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: ctr
  • Injury: fatal

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 1,569 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, January 26, 2018
  • Maximum gross weight: 16,000 lb
  • Seats: 1
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
  • Operator: AG Concepts INC

The flight

  • Departed from: Morgan City MS at 11:06 pm
  • Destination: Morgan City MS
  • Flight plan: none

Weather at the time

  • Light: not reported
  • Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.23 inHg
  • Observation at 10:53 pm from GWO, 9 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

14 documents, released by the NTSB on March 4, 2020. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.

The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.

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.