Air Tractor AT502 accident near Corcoran, California, October 8, 2024
On October 8, 2024 at about 5:30 pm local time, a 2015 Air Tractor AT502, registered N243LA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Corcoran, California (10 Strip 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
A total loss of engine power due to the pilot's improper manipulation of the condition lever during flight, which resulted in fuel starvation and a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 8, 2024 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Corcoran, California · 10 Strip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT502 B, built 2015
- Registration
- N243LA · registry record · serial 502B-3020
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, while maneuvering from base to final, he noticed the fuel control condition lever was in the cut-off position, which subsequently resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of engine power. He immediately pushed the power, propeller, and condition levers full forward, but did not observe an expected increase in power. After an unsuccessful attempt to restart the engine, the airplane landed in a cotton field short of the intended runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that substantial damage to the left wing and aileron. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during approach
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach
- Off-field or emergency landing during approach
- Fuel starvation during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine controls › Mixture control › Unintentional use/operation
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Incorrect action selection › Pilot
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Incorrect use/operation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 8,074 hours in all; 1,976 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 7,945.8 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 1, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,020 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, September 25, 2024; 32 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt And Whitney Canada PT6-34AG (turboprop); 962 hours total
- Operator: Lakeland Dusters Aviation Inc
The flight
- Departed from: 43CN Corcocran CA at 5:25 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 5,280 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 8 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 am from KVIS, 22 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KVIS 081656Z AUTO 18008KT 10SM CLR 27/12 A2985 RMK AO2 SLP105 T02670122 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 –Accident Airplane
Photograph 2 – Accident Airplane
Photograph 3 – Damaged aileron hinge and boost tab control rodThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on April 9, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.