Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from an antenna while maneuvering during a low-level aerial application flight.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that while making a low-level aerial application pass over a corn field, he heard a loud bang and felt as if the airplane impacted something. He attempted to increase the engine power, but the engine did not respond to the throttle control inputs. The pilot performed an emergency hopper dump of the liquid chemical load and conducted a forced landing to a flat grass field, and a post-impact fire ensued.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, engine mount, elevator, and both wings. The propeller hub was found near a damaged antenna about .75 mi from where the airplane came to rest. The antenna was located inside of a metal fence, next to a small white building. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN26LA252 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 13, 2026
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Whiting, Kansas
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Air Tractor AT802
- N-number
- N808HB
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2013
- 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.