Air Tractor AT-502 accident near Kaplan, Louisiana, June 15, 1992
On June 15, 1992 at about 4:40 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-502, registered N45383, was substantially damaged in an accident near Kaplan, Louisiana (Hanks 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 LOWER FLAPS TO THE TAKEOFF POSITION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 15, 1992 · about 4:40 pm local time
- Place
- Kaplan, Louisiana · Hanks · 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
- N45383 · no longer on the register · serial 502-0113
- 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 PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF FROM AN AGRICULTURAL AIRSTRIP WHILE LOADED WITH CHEMICALS WHEN TAKEOFF SPEED COULD NOT BE ATTAINED. THE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE ATTEMPTED TO LOWER THE FLAPS TO THE TAKEOFF POSITION BEFORE HE WENT INTO THE AREA BEYOND THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TREES AND CAME TO REST NEAR A NEARBY ROAD. THE PILOT STATED THE FLAPS WOULD NOT LOWER DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL. THE FAA COORDINATOR EXAMINED THE FLAPS AND FOUND THEM FUNCTIONAL.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 9,000 hours in all; 450 in the last 90 days; 150 in the last 30 days; 8,750 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 1991
- Maximum gross weight: 4,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LA19 at 4:40 pm
- Destination: LA19
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 1,930 ft by 130 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from LFT, 21 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.