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Air Tractor Inc AT-502

Aircraft Manufacturer: Air Tractor Inc

Model: AT-502

Aircraft Details

Manufacturer Air Tractor Inc
Manufacturer Serial Number 0390303
Model AT-502
Category Land
Aircraft Type Fixed wing single engine
Weight Class 1 (Up to 12,499 lbs gross take off weight)
Engine Type Turbo-prop
Number of Engines 1 engine
Number of Seats 1 seat
View Aircraft N-Numbers For This Model
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Safety Analysis

Composition of NTSB accident records for this model in general-aviation operations (FAR Part 91 and 137), based on NTSB data as of May 1, 2026. It's a breakdown of recorded accidents rather than a safety rating, and types with significant non-GA operation (such as Part 135) may be under-represented.

100%
Identity Confirmed

Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).

30 exact, 14 recovered, 0 provisional

Methodology
44
Recorded GA Accidents

Total recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.

6 fatal accidents.

13.6% of recorded accidents were fatal.

78
Currently Registered

Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.

1,926

Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).

Comparison

Within its peer cohort

Within this model's peer class (same aircraft type, engine class, and seat range), comparison of its share of recorded NTSB accidents to its share of FAA registration exposure (aircraft-years since 2008).

This is a share comparison, not flight-hours adjusted, so a model flown more per airframe than its peers will show an accident share above its exposure share even if its per-hour safety is average. Methodology →

Model class Share of cohort
Accidents
1.2%
Exposure
0.2%
Time series

Accidents by year

Recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents per calendar year, derived directly from the NTSB accident database. Each bar shows the accidents that occurred in that year. Methodology →

2008 – 2025 Total 44
Accidents by year Accidents by year (total 44 observed): 2008 3, 2009 3, 2011 3, 2012 3, 2013 3, 2014 2, 2015 1, 2016 5, 2017 2, 2018 2, 2019 3, 2020 1, 2021 2, 2022 4, 2023 2, 2024 1, 2025 4. 2 4 6 8 0 3 '08 3 '09 3 '11 3 '12 3 '13 2 '14 1 '15 5 '16 2 '17 2 '18 3 '19 1 '20 2 '21 4 '22 2 '23 1 '24 4 '25
Composition

Phase of flight

Which phase of flight each accident occurred in, as coded by the NTSB. Most accidents happen in the phases where most flying time is concentrated, so this isn't a measure of which phase is most dangerous.

5 categories Total 44
Maneuvering 21
Takeoff 14
Landing 4
Enroute 3
Initial climb 2
Causes

Finding category

Top-level NTSB cause category, from the coded investigation findings. An accident often has more than one finding, so totals here can exceed the recorded accident count.

NTSB top-level codes Total 115
Personnel issues 43
Aircraft 37
Environmental issues 31
Not determined 4
Outcomes

Injury severity

NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.

Highest per accident Total 44
None 23
Minor 11
Fatal 6
Serious 4

Operating-rule mix (all parts): 137 (42)· NUSN (5)· 091 (2)

Recorded Accidents

All 44 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.

Date Location Tail Damage Highest injury Phase of flight Finding categories
Gueydan, LA N7315L Substantial Serious Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Lawrenceville, IL N9193V Substantial Minor Takeoff unknown
Grady, AR N9185F Substantial Fatal Takeoff unknown
Gibson, AR N45113 Substantial Serious Takeoff Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Covert, KS N15189 Substantial None Maneuvering unknown
Great Bend, ND N9082C Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft
Halstad, MN N45453 Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Appleton, MN N73194 Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Cheneyville, LA N9184Q Substantial Fatal Maneuvering Personnel issues, Not determined
Washington, LA N407CT Substantial None Maneuvering Personnel issues
East Grand Forks, MN N1540S Substantial None Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Wooster, OH N1519U Substantial Serious Maneuvering Environmental issues, Personnel issues, Aircraft
Cushing, OK N4540C Substantial None Takeoff Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft
Pecan Gap, TX N9185D Destroyed Fatal Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues
Welsh, LA N1509E Substantial Minor Maneuvering Personnel issues, Environmental issues
STANTON, TX N15400 Substantial None Maneuvering Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Harlingen, TX N7314D Destroyed Fatal Maneuvering Environmental issues, Personnel issues
Americus, GA N843WA Substantial None Maneuvering Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
De Land, IL N4509S Substantial None Landing Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
Union City, TN N4531K Substantial None Enroute Aircraft
Tahoka, TX N144HF Destroyed Minor Takeoff Aircraft, Not determined
Delhi, LA N1002L Substantial None Landing Environmental issues, Aircraft
Ropesville, TX N10325 Destroyed Serious Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues
Nicolaus, CA N5091N Substantial None Maneuvering Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues
West, TX N1546Z Destroyed Fatal Maneuvering Aircraft, Personnel issues, Environmental issues

Page 1 of 2 (showing accidents 1–25 of 44).

Airworthiness Directives

Composition of FAA airworthiness directives (ADs) that apply to this model, as of October 21, 2026. ADs are mandatory FAA-issued corrective actions for safety-of-flight issues. Pilots, owners, and operators should always verify against the current FAA AD listing before any maintenance or flight action. Methodology →

6 active · 8 total airworthiness directives issued against this model · most recent:

Time series

Directives by year

Count of airworthiness directives issued against this model per calendar year (publication date in the Federal Register). Includes both active and superseded directives. An active AD still applies; a superseded one was replaced by a later AD.

2002 – 2009 Total 8
Airworthiness directives by year Airworthiness directives by year (total 8 observed): 2002 2, 2003 2, 2004 1, 2006 2, 2009 1. 1 2 3 4 0 2 '02 2 '03 1 '04 2 '06 1 '09

Recent directives

The most recent airworthiness directives applicable to this model, by effective date. A Superseded badge means a later AD has replaced this one; we still list the original so it isn't lost from the page.

AD number Effective date Subject Status
2009-11-05 Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-400, AT-400A, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-503A, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A Airplanes Active
2006-24-10 Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-501, AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, and AT-503A Airplanes Active
2006-23-14 Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A Airplanes Active
2004-15-15 Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-401, AT-401B, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-501, AT-502, AT-502A, AT-502B, AT-503A, AT-602, AT-802, and AT-802A Airplanes Active
2003-07-04 Airworthiness Directives; Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-300, AT-400, AT-400A, AT-401, AT-401B, AT-402, AT-402A, AT-402B, AT-501, AT-502, and AT-502B Airplanes Active
Data presented on this website is sourced directly from official Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records. To ensure accuracy, we try not to correct issues such as improper punctuation, spelling errors, empty fields, or unusual labels like "SALE REPORTED" for a registrant. We make every effort to present information as it appears in the FAA database. This website is not affiliated with any government agency.