Air Tractor AT-502 accident near Cleveland, Mississippi, August 10, 1991
On August 10, 1991 at about 2:45 pm local time, a Air Tractor AT-502, registered N45192, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cleveland, Mississippi (Cleveland 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 DECISION TO CONTINUE THE FLIGHT WITH REDUCED VISUAL LOOKOUT DUE TO A DIRTY FOGGY WINDSHIELD.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 1991 · about 2:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cleveland, Mississippi · Cleveland Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502
- Registration
- N45192 · no longer on the register · serial 502-0099
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WITH THE WIND AT 5 KTS DURING A SPRAYING OPERATION, THE PLT WAS FLYING A CIRCULAR PATTERN TO DISTRIBUTE THE CHEMICAL BECAUSE IT WAS ADHERING TO THE WINDSCREEN REDUCING HIS VISIBILITY. DURING A SPRAY PASS THE RT MAIN LANDING GEAR WHEEL SEPARATED AFTER COLLISION WITH AN IRRIGATION PIPE. THE FLT DIVERTED TO A SUITABLE ARPT AND THE ACFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AFTER TOUCHDOWN.
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
- Flight time: 10,022 hours in all; 940 in this make and model; 300 in the last 90 days; 110 in the last 30 days; 9,912 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-15AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Trailake MS at 1:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 600 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:50 pm from GLH, 22 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.