Air Tractor AT-502 accident near Tarzan, Texas, May 26, 2004
On May 26, 2004 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-502, registered N61407, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tarzan, Texas (Cooper Flying Service Airstrip airport). 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 pilot's failure to maintain proper airspeed suitable for flight. Contributing factors were the high density altitude and tail wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 26, 2004 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Tarzan, Texas · Cooper Flying Service Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502
- Registration
- N61407 · no longer on the register · serial 502B-0313
- 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 airplane began to settle back down on the ground just after take-off from runway N (a 2,650-feet long by 150-feet wide turf runway). The 3,370-hour pilot emptied the load of chemicals, but was still unable to gain altitude. The automated surface observing station at Midland International Airport (MAF), near Midland, Texas, located approximately 12 miles southwest of the airport, reported winds at 170 at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky clear, temperature 88 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 63 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 29.88 inches of Mercury. The density altitude was calculated as 5,320 feet based on the outside air temperature of 31 degrees Celsius, a dew point of 17 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.88 inches of mercury. The field elevation at the private airstrip was 2,740 feet msl.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,370 hours in all; 910 in this make and model; 210 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: April 30, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,837 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 18, 2003; 113 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Tarzan TX
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from MAF
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.