Air Tractor Inc AT-502B
Aircraft Manufacturer: Air Tractor Inc
Model: AT-502B
About the Air Tractor Inc AT-502B
The AT-502B records 93 accidents over its FAA-registration history, of which 21 were fatal. Across the type's own registration exposure, that works out to about 15 accidents per 1,000 aircraft-years.
The AT-502B is the second-largest active fleet in Air Tractor's lineup, with more than 300 airframes on the U.S. civil registry. The model accounts for about 18% of the manufacturer's active registered fleet. Of every registry record the type has ever held, about 40% have since been deregistered.
The AT-502B carries six active FAA airworthiness directives, out of seven ever issued against the type. The most recent of those directives is dated June 1, 2009.
Aircraft Details
| Manufacturer | Air Tractor Inc |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer Serial Number | 0390307 |
| Model | AT-502B |
| 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 |
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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.
Accidents are identity-confirmed against FAA registration records (two independent sources).
62 exact, 30 recovered, 1 provisional
MethodologyTotal recorded general-aviation accidents within the analyzed period.
21 fatal accidents.
22.6% of recorded accidents were fatal.
Active aircraft fleet size contributing to the exposure data.
6,250 (± 169)
Aircraft-years of FAA registration exposure (2008–present).
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 →
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 →
Investigations take 12–36 months to finalise, so the trailing years come in incomplete. Recent years are adjusted upward for that lag. Observed counts show as solid bars, the lag-adjusted estimate shows hatched.
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.
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.
Injury severity
NTSB classification of the worst injury in each accident: None, Minor, Serious, or Fatal. Each accident counts in exactly one severity.
Operating-rule mix (all parts): 137 (88)· 091 (5)· NUSN (2)
Recorded Accidents
All 93 recorded NTSB general-aviation accidents for this model, most recent first.
| Date | Location | Tail | Damage | Highest injury | Phase of flight | Finding categories |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Larose, LA | N5063N | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Sulphur, LA | N598LA | Substantial | None | Landing | unknown | |
| Goodland, KS | N502WF | Substantial | None | Landing | Environmental issues, Personnel issues | |
| Hastings, NE | N502KB | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Environmental issues, Aircraft | |
| Charleston, MO | N114WL | Substantial | Minor | Maneuvering | Personnel issues | |
| Big Cypress, FL | N8516V | Substantial | None | Enroute | Personnel issues, Aircraft | |
| Corcoran, CA | N243LA | Substantial | None | Approach | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Bonita, LA | N6177J | Destroyed | Fatal | Maneuvering | Personnel issues | |
| Arco, ID | N581TW | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | unknown | |
| Whiteface, TX | N2032K | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | unknown | |
| Whiteface, TX | N8525V | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | unknown | |
| Olney, TX | N6108L | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Vidalia, LA | N5180W | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| New Rockford, ND | N502NB | Substantial | Fatal | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Leipsic, OH | N5048S | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Organizational issues | |
| Bakersfield, CA | N6174W | Substantial | Minor | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Lake Village, AR | N509HB | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft | |
| Melville, LA | N41850 | Substantial | Minor | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Decatur, IL | N5850R | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Aircraft | |
| Wyoming, IL | N205SK | Substantial | None | Landing | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Center Cross, VA | N50075 | Substantial | None | Landing | Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Topeka, KS | N502CP | Substantial | None | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Personnel issues | |
| Edcouch, TX | N334LA | Substantial | None | Takeoff | Personnel issues, Environmental issues | |
| Edwardsburg, MI | N8523Z | Substantial | Serious | Maneuvering | Personnel issues, Aircraft, Environmental issues | |
| Paragould, AR | N6088K | Destroyed | Fatal | Maneuvering | Aircraft, Not determined |
Page 1 of 4 (showing accidents 1–25 of 93).
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 · 7 total airworthiness directives issued against this model · most recent:
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.
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 |