Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control in flight. Contributing to the accident was his decision to fly with known hazardous weather conditions in the vicinity.
NTSB analysis
The pilot had just begun crop dusting when a gust of wind forced him into the ground from a height of approximately one hundred and fifty feet. The airplane struck the ground in a left-wing-low and nose-down attitude. The left side of the aircraft impacted a tree, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot said that he was aware of a nearby thunderstorm but did not believe it would affect his flight. Upon exiting the aircraft the pilot estimated the wind to be approximately thirty miles per hour. It began to rain twenty minutes after the accident. No preflight briefing was received. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies prior to the accident.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN09CA361 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 12, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Trumann, Arkansas
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Air Tractor AT-402A
- N-number
- N50956
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 137 (agricultural)
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial application
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.