Air Tractor AT-502 N45113

Summary

On 5 June 2025 at about 23:37 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502 registered N45113, operated by Over and Under Flying Service, was involved in an accident near Gibson, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 June 2025 at 23:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Gibson, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Private Strip (PVT)

Coordinates

35.7524, -90.8321

Aircraft

Air Tractor AT-502

Registration

N45113

Category

Airplane

Year built

1990

Engines

1

Operator

Over and Under Flying Service

Operating rule

Part 137: Agricultural

Purpose of flight

Aerial Application

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN25LA200

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s loss of control during takeoff due to an encounter with a sudden wind shift.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was attempting to takeoff for a local aerial application flight. During his flights that day, he had been monitoring a storm cell which was building to the south of the runway. He recalled that during his last landing, the windsock indicated a light wind; however, after reloading with fertilizer, he started the takeoff roll and noticed the 10-knot windsock was “completed inflated and whipping violently”. As he continued the takeoff, he felt the tail of the airplane being pushed by the wind, resulting in a back-and-forth motion. Despite being at a low speed (about 40 to 50 mph) and without pilot input, the force of the wind resulted in the airplane becoming airborne about 3 ft. The airplane then nosed down, tumbled, and came to rest inverted. He reported no mechanical malfunctions contributed to the accident, and he suspected the airplane encountered a downdraft or microburst. A review of weather information found an area of convective weather within 10 nautical miles south-southwest of the airstrip. FAA Advisory Circular 00-24C Thunderstroms highlights that within 20 miles of a severe thunderstorm the potential exists for low-level wind shear or microburst.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.