Air Tractor AT-502 accident near Lissie, Texas, May 20, 1995
On May 20, 1995 at about 9:20 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-502, registered N4554R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lissie, Texas. 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 PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 20, 1995 · about 9:20 pm local time
- Place
- Lissie, Texas · 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
- N4554R · no longer on the register · serial 502-0135
- 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 AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANE EXECUTED A FORCED LANDING AFTER A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DURING TAKEOFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS PERFORMING 'NORMALLY' DURING THE INITIAL TAKEOFF ROLL; HOWEVER, 'AFTER THE TAIL CAME UP, THE ENGINE STARTED LOSING POWER.' HE FURTHER REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE COULD NOT SUSTAIN FLIGHT AND COLLIDED WITH A BERM BEYOND THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST UPRIGHT IN A RICE FIELD AND THE WINGS WERE STRUCTURALLY DAMAGED. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND FUEL CONTROL DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES AND THE CAUSE OF THE 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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 21,023 hours in all; 2,425 in this make and model; 217 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 2,082 as pilot in command; 238 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,425 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 11, 1995; 217 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 3 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°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.
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.