Air Tractor AT-502B accident near Edna, Texas, June 12, 1998
On June 12, 1998 at about 7:45 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-502B, registered N6107W, was substantially damaged in an accident near Edna, Texas (Morales 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 inadequate compensation for the existing wind conditions. Factors were the crosswind, the dust devils, and the confined landing area.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 1998 · about 7:45 pm local time
- Place
- Edna, Texas · Morales 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-502B
- Registration
- N6107W · registry record · serial 502B-0342
- 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 reported that he lost control of the airplane while landing to the east on a crowned, narrow dirt airstrip that was further confined by an electric fence running paralleled to the airstrip. The pilot added that a windsock was not available at the airstrip; however, he was aware that the intensity of the wind continued to increase during the day as the temperature increased and the air became more unstable. A 'brisk crosswind prevailed from his right,' and dust devils were prevalent throughout the area when the pilot was executed his ninth landing of the day at the airstrip. The pilot added that after 'touching down normally,' the airplane drifted off the centerline of the airstrip towards the left edge of the runway. The pilot was unable to correct for the drift, and the left main wheel impacted a mount of dirt on the edge of the strip. The airplane nosed over coming to rest in the inverted position. The winds at the Victoria Airport, located 21 miles southeast of the accident site, were reported from 180 degrees at 18 knots, gusting to 23 knots.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 11,500 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 10,500 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,350 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection; 450 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 6T4 TX at 5:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,200 ft by 35 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 18 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from VCT, 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.
Other NTSB records under N6107W the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.