Air Tractor AT502B incident near Cruz Alta, Outside the U.S., March 16, 2026
On March 16, 2026 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT502B, registered PTSEF, was destroyed in an incident during initial climb near Cruz Alta, Outside the U.S.. It was flown under non-U.S. commercial rules. 1 person was killed.
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this incident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 16, 2026 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Cruz Alta, Brazil
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- not recorded
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT502B
- Registration
- PTSEF · no longer on the register · serial 502B-2987
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Flight · non-U.S. commercial rules
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Not recorded
Weather at the time
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.