Air Tractor INC AT-602 accident near Bealeton, Virginia, May 1, 2026
On May 1, 2026 at about 4:30 pm local time, a 2001 Air Tractor INC AT-602, registered N602RH, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Bealeton, Virginia. 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 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 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 1, 2026 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bealeton, Virginia · 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-602, built 2001 · all AT-602s on the register
- Registration
- N602RH · registry record · serial 602-0627
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On May 1, 2026, at 1230 eastern daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N602RH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bealeton, Virginia. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 agricultural flight. The pilot reported that he was conducting an aerial application flight over a farm field and had completed previous passes uneventfully. During his last pass, the propeller blades moved uncommanded into the feather position, which resulted in a loss of thrust. The airplane was at a low altitude, and the pilot could only maneuver to a short field to make a forced landing. Upon touchdown, the pilot intentionally ground looped the airplane to avoid overrunning the field. The airplane’s landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage was substantially damaged. The airplane’s engine continued to operate with the propeller rotating until it was shut down. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
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
- Landing gear collapse during landing
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 7,484 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 2, 2026; 38 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 12,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Operator: Eastern Aviation LLC
The flight
- Departed from: HWY Warrenton VA at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 5VA4 Manquin VA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 12:35 pm from KHWY, 2 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KHWY 011635Z AUTO 18004KT 10SM CLR 18/M01 A2995
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA26LA195.