No fatalities

Air Tractor AT 402 accident at Somerton, AZ, 20 Sept 2020

Somerton, AZ, United States

On September 20, 2020, an Air Tractor AT 402 Undesignat operated by Tri-Rotor Spray & Chemical was involved in an aviation accident near Somerton, AZ. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s failure to use full power during takeoff and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent impact with terrain. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to use full power during takeoff and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent impact with terrain.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

Powerplant parameters — Not attained/maintainedPilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 20 Sept 2020 Air Tractor AT 402 Undesignat accident near Somerton, AZ?

The pilot’s failure to use full power during takeoff and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent impact with terrain.

Were there any fatalities in the 20 Sept 2020 Air Tractor AT 402 Undesignat accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 20 Sept 2020 involved an Air Tractor AT 402 Undesignat, operated by Tri-Rotor Spray & Chemical, at Somerton, AZ.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot’s failure to use full power during takeoff and his delayed decision to abort the takeoff, which resulted in a runway overrun and subsequent impact with terrain.