Air Tractor INC AT 402B accident near Monte Vista, Colorado, July 22, 2015
On July 22, 2015 at about 7:00 pm local time, a 2005 Air Tractor INC AT 402B, registered N402KN, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Monte Vista, Colorado (Monte Vista Municipal 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 maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in a runway excursion and collision with objects.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2015 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Monte Vista, Colorado · Monte Vista Municipal · 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 402B B, built 2005 · all AT 402Bs on the register
- Registration
- N402KN · no longer on the register · serial 402B-1159
- 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 stated that during the landing roll, the airplane became airborne after encountering a wind gust. He reported that the airplane bounced as it settled back to the runway, veered to the right, and departed the runway. During the runway excursion, the airplane impacted several vehicles. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions 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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (aborted after touchdown)
- Loss of control on ground during after landing
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Ground collision during after landing
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
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Ground vehicle › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,300 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 1,100 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 18, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,599.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 24, 2015; 100 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,170 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-34AG (turboprop); 1,700 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MVI Monte Vista CO at 6:50 pm
- Destination: MVI Monte Vista CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 2,300 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 7:52 pm from KALS, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on September 11, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Substantial Damage to Left Side of Airplane (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.