Air Tractor INC AT-402B accident near Muscle Shoals, Alabama, June 12, 2008
On June 12, 2008 at about 8:45 pm local time, a Air Tractor INC AT-402B, registered N402BT, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Muscle Shoals, Alabama (Northwest Alabama Regional 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 clearance from utility wires during low altitude maneuvers.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2008 · about 8:45 pm local time
- Place
- Muscle Shoals, Alabama · Northwest Alabama Regional · 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 · all AT-402Bs on the register
- Registration
- N402BT · no longer on the register · serial 402B-1166
- 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 an Air Tractor AT-402B stated that he was making east and west passes above a cornfield, maneuvering under power lines at one end. On his last pass, the vertical stabilizer contacted a power line, shearing the upper section of the stabilizer and the entire rudder. The pilot was able to land the airplane at a nearby airport without further incident. The pilot further stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.
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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Not specified
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 525 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 16,900 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 9,170 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Rogersville AL
- Destination: NONE
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,200 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from MSL
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.