No fatalities

AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502 A accident at Sturgis, SD, 18 Jun 2023

Sturgis, SD, United States

On June 18, 2023, an AIR TRACTOR INC AT-502 A operated by ASCEND AG INC was involved in an aviation accident near Sturgis, SD. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot’s improper timing to initiate beta mode with the propeller and his failure to maintain directional during the full load landing that resulted in a runway excursion. 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 improper timing to initiate beta mode with the propeller and his failure to maintain directional during the full load landing that resulted in a runway excursion. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of recent experience with performing a full load landing and the high-density altitude that likely affected aircraft performance during the landing.

— NTSB Determination

Contributing factors

PilotDirectional control — Not attained/maintainedEffect on equipment