Air Tractor INC AT-602 accident near Glendora, Mississippi, August 19, 2022
On August 19, 2022 at about 3:05 pm local time, a 2013 Air Tractor INC AT-602, registered N602PB, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Glendora, 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 collision with terrain for reasons that could not be determined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2022 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Glendora, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT-602, built 2013 · all AT-602s on the register
- Registration
- N602PB · no longer on the register · serial 602-1233
- 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 performed an aerial application flight without anomalies, returned to the departure airstrip, and departed on the second flight. An onboard device that recorded the flight track indicated that while en route, the airplane climbed to a maximum altitude of 575 ft above mean sea level (msl) before it began a slight right turn, and then the data ended. The data stopped recording about 1,650 ft south of the accident location. The airplane struck multiple rows of corn at an angle, rather than perpendicular or parallel to the corn which is common practice in an emergency landing. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation before the accident. The emergency chemical dump handle was in the closed position when examined at the accident site, indicating the pilot likely did not perceive an emergency during the accident sequence. The pilot’s medical records show he had a history of recurrent sinusitis. At his most recent primary care office visit, eight months before the accident, he had an acute sinus infection and complained of dizziness. Toxicology testing detected a therapeutic level of the motion sickness medication meclizine in his blood. While sinusitis can cause dizziness, there is no record of a current infection and his daughter reported he was feeling well. Although a sudden onset of vertigo or dizziness would be impairing, the meclizine should help to alleviate those symptoms. Given the available medical information, the lack of evidence that the pilot perceived an in-flight emergency, and the inconsistent way the airplane landed diagonal to the corn instead of with the rows, this investigation was unable to determine if the pilot’s medical conditions or effects from his use of meclizine contributed to this accident.
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 maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 32,500 hours in all
- Last flight review: January 21, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,999 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 31, 2022; 281 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-65B (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Snow Brake Air Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: Glendora MS at 3:02 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 am from RNV, 23 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KRNV 191515Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 27/21 A2997 RMK AO2 T02650214 TSNO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
12 documents, released by the NTSB on January 4, 2024. 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.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Witness Interview Summaries | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 2 | Electronic Recorder Devices - Specialist's Factual REPORT_ERA22FA376 | PDF, 16 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Wreckage Examination Summary | PDF, 18 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - Emergency Dump Handle | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 5 | Pilot Log Excerpt | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 6 | Maintenance Record Excerpts | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 7 | Weather Reports and Records | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Medical Factual | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 9 | Toxicological Report - Pilot | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
| 10 | Evidence Control Forms | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 11 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | PDF, 10 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 12 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | PDF, 1 page · our copy | View Download |
Other NTSB records under N602PB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.
