Pilot Killed in Air Tractor AT-502B Crash Near Forbes, Missouri

A single-engine agricultural aircraft crashed near Forbes, Missouri, on June 15, 2026, killing the pilot, according to preliminary data from the National Transportation Safety Board. The aircraft — an Air Tractor AT-502B registered as N503GK — was the only plane involved. The NTSB has assigned event ID 20260616203188 to the investigation; circumstances of the crash remain unknown.

Authorities have not released the pilot's identity, pending notification of next of kin. The NTSB said a preliminary report, which will include basic factual information but no probable cause, is typically published within several weeks of an accident. A final cause determination may take months or longer as investigators examine the wreckage, maintenance records, weather data and pilot qualifications.

The AT-502B is a turboprop agricultural aircraft widely used for crop dusting and aerial application. Operating at low altitudes and often maneuvering near terrain and obstacles, ag-aviation aircraft face inherent hazards including stall-spin events, wire strikes and controlled flight into terrain. NTSB officials emphasized that no cause has been determined in this case.