Air Tractor AT-502B accident near Marvell, Arkansas, June 12, 2001
On June 12, 2001 at about 6:30 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-502B, registered N6181Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marvell, Arkansas. 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 improper decision of the driver of the vehicle(ATV) to enter an active airstrip.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2001 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Marvell, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502B
- Registration
- N6181Q · registry record · serial 502B-0395
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) pulled out onto the runway in front of the departing aircraft, which was on takeoff roll approximately halfway down the 1/2-mile long dirt airstrip. The pilot swerved the airplane to the left, and the right wing impacted the roll cage on the ATV. The ATV rolled over under the airplane's right wing, and the airplane continued to the left and impacted a ditch. The left main landing gear separated, the airplane spun around to the left and came to rest upright in a field. The driver of the ATV stated that he thought the airstrip was a "turnabout," and realized a "yellow airplane" was approaching them from behind.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 1,500 in this make and model; 13,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 28, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Marvell AR at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 97°F (36°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N6181Q 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.