Air Tractor AT-502A accident near Raywood, Texas, June 3, 2003
On June 3, 2003 at about 2:30 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-502A, registered N948BB, was destroyed in an accident near Raywood, Texas (Tri-County Air Service Airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's encounter with a stall/mush condition in the takeoff initial climb due to his inadequate preflight/pretakeoff procedures and failure to set the wing flaps to the proper takeoff configuration before beginning the takeoff ground roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 3, 2003 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Raywood, Texas · Tri-County Air Service Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502A
- Registration
- N948BB · no longer on the register · serial 502A-0478
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with trees while departing from a private grass airstrip. The departure surface was a grass strip that stretched about 2,000 feet long, with trees located at the end. The Airplane Flight Manual for the AT-502A states that 10 degrees of flaps should be set for takeoff. The pilot reported that his takeoff procedure consisted of starting the takeoff roll with the wing flaps in the retracted position until rotation, where he would he would start the initial climb by pulling back on the control stick while simultaneously lowering the flaps to the 10-degree extended position. The pilot stated that he used this procedure in an effort to decrease the ground roll. Following his procedure, the pilot applied full engine power and the airplane started the takeoff roll down the grass strip. As the airplane's groundspeed increased, he moved the flap control to extend the wing flaps and rotated the airplane to a nose high attitude. The airplane lifted off the grass surface, but the wing flaps failed to extend. The airplane climbed to about 15 feet, flew down the runway in ground effect, and collided with tree branches, then descended into the terrain. During an examination of the cockpit, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector observed the flap circuit breaker to be in the "out" position. The airplane's manufacturer stated that applying the wing flaps after starting the departure roll is an improper takeoff procedure. The manufacturer further stated that the drag created by the wing flaps at 10 degrees is negligible during takeoff roll phase of operation, and keeping them retracted will not decrease the takeoff distance by a measurable amount. An examination of the flap system failed to find a problem with the system operation or determine why the circuit breaker was in the open position.
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: single-engine land; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 22,350 hours in all; 3,200 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 22,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,184.7 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, April 1, 2003; 75.8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-45R (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: XS58 Raywood TX at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 2,200 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 1,700 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from IAH, 34 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.
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.