Air Tractor AT-502 accident near Lamesa, Texas, April 15, 2002
On April 15, 2002 at about 5:02 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-502, registered N91905, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lamesa, Texas (Lamesa Municipal airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power due to contamination of the fuel system. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 2002 · about 5:02 pm local time
- Place
- Lamesa, Texas · Lamesa Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502
- Registration
- N91905 · no longer on the register · serial 502-0226
- 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 22,894-hour pilot reported that after a "normal" takeoff he reduced the throttle to cruise power and the "engine started losing power." During a forced landing, the aircraft nosed over and came to rest in an inverted position. Examination of the engine by a Pratt & Whitney representative revealed that the P3 air filter, low pressure fuel pump filter, and the fuel line between the fuel control unit (FCU) and the oil/fuel heat exchanger contained dirt and water contamination. The 14 fuel nozzles were removed and flow checked. One nozzle met the manufacturer's specifications, one nozzle was completely obstructed, and the remaining 12 nozzles displayed "varying degrees of streaking."
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 22,894 hours in all; 6,894 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 22,894 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 18, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,623.6 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 8, 2002
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-15AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2F5 Lamesa TX at 4:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 16, 4,999 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 15 knots, gusting 22
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from MAF, 65 miles away
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.
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.