Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a low pass, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that he was conducting a low-altitude application flight for a gender reveal celebration with one passenger onboard the single-seat airplane. While maneuvering, he dumped about 350 gallons of pink water. The airplane got too slow, aerodynamically stalled, impacted terrain, and then came to rest inverted.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, right wing, and empennage.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA535 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Sep 8, 2019
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Turkey, Texas
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Minor injuries
- 1
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Air Tractor AT 602
- N-number
- N602SS
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2012
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
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.