Air Tractor INC AT 602 accident near Ropesville, Texas, March 27, 2015
On March 27, 2015 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2011 Air Tractor INC AT 602, registered N20062, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Ropesville, Texas (Pro-Agri Spraying 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2015 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Ropesville, Texas · Pro-Agri Spraying · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT 602 NO SERIES, built 2011 · all AT 602s on the register
- Registration
- N20062 · registry record · serial 602-1198
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During an aerial application flight in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, the commercial pilot departed the airstrip with a full load of insecticide, but then realized the airplane was equipped with improper spray nozzles, and returned to the airstrip. Considering the fully loaded configuration, the pilot made one low approach and reported that everything felt normal. On the next approach the pilot touched down on the dirt portion of the runway, applied beta (reverse thrust), and immediately the airplane began yawing to the left. The pilot applied right rudder and right brake but the airplane continued to yaw left. According to the pilot, the tailwheel was not down when beta was applied, which contributed to the subsequent loss of directional control. The airplane exited the runway to the left and bounced over several crop rows causing the left main landing gear to collapse. The propeller dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall and right wing. When the airplane came to rest on its back, the pilot remained strapped in, upside down with his helmet on and visor down. The insecticide chemicals immediately began pouring over his face and he had the sensation that he was drowning. The pilot was able to release his seat belt and crawl out of the airplane through the emergency door. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,277 hours in all; 23 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 2,177 as pilot in command; 1,297 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 23, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,022 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 12,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-65AG (turboprop); 2,022 hours total
- Operator: Pro Agri Spraying, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: None Ropesville TX at 8:20 pm
- Destination: None Ropesville TX
- Flight plan: none
- Runway E/W, 3,920 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 30,000 ft
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KLBB, 22 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number GAA15CA023.