Air Tractor AT-502 accident near Satartia, Mississippi, August 22, 2008
On August 22, 2008 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-502, registered N1520X, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Satartia, Mississippi. 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 inadequate visual lookout resulting in the in-flight collision with a 40-foot-tall antenna.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 22, 2008 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Satartia, Mississippi · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502
- Registration
- N1520X · no longer on the register · serial 502-0157
- 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 noticed that during a low pass over a field, the aircraft was approaching the known location of a 40 foot-tall antenna. He initiated a right climbing turn to avoid the antenna, but the left wing collided with it. The airplane abruptly rolled left to the inverted position, and while attempting to correct, the airplane impacted the ground. Based on the antenna height and location from the nearest airport, the Federal Aviation Administration was not required to be notified of its construction.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tower/antenna (incl guy wires) › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,727 hours in all; 4,854 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 7,600 as pilot in command; 651 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,775 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 1, 2007; 430 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-15AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Carson Air Service, Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Holly Bluff MS at 7:00 pm
- Destination: Yazoo City MS
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,400 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:54 pm from JAN
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.