Air Tractor AT-502 accident near Weiner, Arkansas, November 20, 2002
On November 20, 2002 at about 7:00 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-502, registered N502RS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Weiner, Arkansas (Keller Airfield). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 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 a compressor stall for undetermined reasons. A contributing factor was the soft terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 2002 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Weiner, Arkansas · Keller Airfield · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502
- Registration
- N502RS · registry record · serial 502-0089
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, approximately 120 feet AGL, the turboprop agricultural aircraft developed a compressor stall and lost power. The pilot attempted to level the airplane when it impacted soft terrain and nosed over. The reason for the compressor stall and loss of power 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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 10,310 hours in all; 5,568 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 56 in the last 30 days; 98,180 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 7, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,277 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 1, 2002; 152 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-15AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5AR7 Weiner AR at 6:39 pm
- Destination: 5AR7 Weiner AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,600 ft by 88 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from JBR, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.