Air Tractor AT-502A accident near Huffman, Texas, May 11, 1999
On May 11, 1999 at about 6:50 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-502A, registered N166MM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Huffman, Texas (South Stoesser 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 wind conditions during landing. Factors were the wind gusts and the high vegetation beside the runway.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 11, 1999 · about 6:50 pm local time
- Place
- Huffman, Texas · South Stoesser Airstrip
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502A
- Registration
- N166MM · registry record · serial 502A-0572
- 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 of the agricultural airplane was performing his 16th approach of the day into the private airstrip when, during the landing flare, 'a gust of wind picked up [the] left wing and moved [the aircraft] to the right.' The right wing contacted a strip of grass, which was approximately 5 feet tall, along the right side of the runway. The aircraft subsequently 'cartwheeled' to the right and came to rest inverted on the west side of the runway. The pilot reported winds at the time of the accident to be from 130 degrees at 15 knots with gusts to 20 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,517 hours in all; 51 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 1,362 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 21, 1999; 51 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-45R (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: M And M Air Service
The flight
- Departed from: NONE
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,000 ft; ovct at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.