Premium research interface

The modern interface for aviation safety intelligence.

Search investigations, review source evidence, monitor watched reports, and trace long-term patterns from one calm, data-first workspace.

63k+
Reports indexed
1940-2026
Coverage
Recent
Last data refresh
Featured Report

Loading…

Loading featured report…

Loading…
Open Report

Safety trends by operating rule

Track fatal and non-fatal accident patterns across Part 91, Part 135, and Part 121 operations.

Loading trend charts…

Browse the aviation graph

Move quickly by aircraft, airport, operator, and time with indexes built for research, not wandering.

Last Data Update

By Decade

By Month

Aircraft Manufacturer

More manufacturers

Airports

More airports

Operators

More operators

About

Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

The goal is practical safety education: make it faster to find relevant investigations, compare similar events, review factual records, and understand the evidence behind probable-cause and preliminary reports.

The investigative work and source records belong to the National Transportation Safety Board and the published investigation record. This site is not affiliated with or endorsed by the NTSB.

FAQs

NTSB Report

October 4, 2011 · Air Tractor AT-502B · N90805

Fort Pierce, FL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
October 4, 2011
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Fort Pierce, FL
Aircraft
Air Tractor AT-502B
Tail Number
N90805
Operator
Southeastern Aerial Crop Service
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA12CA003

The pilot taxied the airplane to the end of the runway with the flaps set to three-fourths in preparation for takeoff. As the airplane accelerated down the runway, the tail of the airplane did not rise as the pilot expected, so he extended the flaps fully. As the airplane reached the end of the runway, the pilot believed that the airplane "did not want to fly." He elaborated that, while the engine instruments indicated no abnormalities, the engine was not providing the amount of power he expected and that the airplane's performance was sluggish. He attempted to jettison the loaded chemical to reduce the airplane's weight, but when he attempted to actuate the load-jettison handle, it would not move. As the airplane approached tall trees beyond the end of the runway and with the airplane nearing a stalled condition, the pilot attempted to land the airplane in an agricultural field ahead. During the landing, the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the nose, empennage, and left wing. A postaccident examination found no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine and that the load jettison mechanism functioned normally. An accurate determination of the airplane's weight at the time of the accident could not be calculated due to variances in the values provided by the pilot and the operator.

NTSB Probable Cause

Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Delayed action-Pilot - C

Full Narrative

The pilot estimated that he had serviced the tailwheel-equipped airplane with about 400 gallons of water and an unknown additional quantity of sulfur in preparation for an aerial application flight. Additionally, the pilot had previously installed rotary atomizer chemical disbursement devices on the airplane and then performed two test flights, noting that with the devices installed the airplane performed "sluggishly." The pilot then taxied the airplane to the end of the 2,600-foot-long runway with the flaps set to three-fourths in preparation for takeoff. As the airplane accelerated down the runway, the tail of the airplane did not rise as the pilot expected, so he extended the flaps fully. As the airplane reached the end of the runway, the pilot felt that the airplane "did not want to fly." He elaborated that while the engine instruments indicated no abnormalities, the engine was not providing the amount of power he expected and that the airplane's performance was sluggish. He attempted to jettison the loaded chemical to reduce the airplane's weight, but when he attempted to actuate the load jettison handle, it would not move. As the airplane approached tall trees beyond the end of the runway, and with the airplane nearing a stalled condition, the pilot attempted to land the airplane in an agricultural field ahead. During the landing, the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the nose, empennage, and left wing. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane following the accident and found no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine and that the load jettison mechanism functioned normally. An accurate account of the airplane's weight at the time of the accident could not be calculated due to variances in the values provided by the pilot and the operator.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time07:15 EDT
Nearest AirportSoutheastern Airport (0nm)
Runway09
Runway Length2600 ft
Runway Width14 ft
Flight Plan FiledUnknown
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAir Tractor AT-502B
Tail NumberN90805
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
OperatorSoutheastern Aerial Crop Service
Operating RulePart 137
Engines1
Engine TypeTurboprop
Engine DetailsPratt And Whitney Canada · PT6A-34AG · Turboprop · 750
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 42 · Second Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDawn
WindCalm
Visibility9 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F / 63 F
Altimeter30.10 inHg
Observation Time10:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data