Air Tractor INC AT 502B accident near Somerton, Arizona, November 30, 2014
On November 30, 2014 at about 8:15 am local time, a 2014 Air Tractor INC AT 502B, registered N946TR, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering near Somerton, Arizona (Tri-Rotor Private Air Strip airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of airplane control for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 30, 2014 · about 8:15 am local time
- Place
- Somerton, Arizona · Tri-Rotor Private Air Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor INC AT 502B, built 2014 · all AT 502Bs on the register
- Registration
- N946TR · no longer on the register · serial 502B-2946
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot was performing a water calibration flight at the end of a day of agricultural application. After spraying the field with water, the airplane was scheduled to return to the airport. Another pilot flying in the area reported that he saw a flash, and, when he flew in the direction of the flash, he saw the accident airplane engulfed in flames. There were no witnesses to the accident, nor did the pilot communicate distress before the impact. No obstructions were observed in the vicinity of the accident site. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed damage consistent with a near-vertical impact with terrain and high forward impact forces. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, and the reason for the loss of control was not determined.
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
- Unknown or undetermined during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,200 hours in all
- Last flight review: March 18, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 502.2 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, November 2, 2014; 20 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney PT6A-34AG (turboprop); 502 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Tri Rotor LLC
The flight
- Departed from: na Somerton AZ at 8:10 am
- Destination: na Somerton AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 7:57 am from KNYL, 7 miles away
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.