The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Little Rock, Arkansas
Air Tractor Inc
K & P Flying Services Inc
Location: Dumas, AR
Accident Number: CEN21LA161
Date & Time: March 15, 2021, 09:40 Local
Registration: N119KP (A1); N312FB (A2)
Aircraft: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602 (A1); AIR TRACTOR INC AT-602 (A2)
Injuries: 1 None (A1); 1 None (A2)
Flight Conducted Under: Part 137: Agricultural (A1); Part 137: Agricultural (A2)
On March 15, 2021, about 940 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602, N119KP and an Air Tractor AT-602m N312FB, were substantially damaged when the airplanes were involved in a mid-air collision near Dumas, Arkansas. Neither pilot from either airplane were injured. Both airplanes were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flights.
According to the pilot of N119KP, he was enroute to return to his private airstrip to reload with agent after he completed an aerial application flight. He was about 500 ft above ground level (agl) when he saw his airstrip and began his descent toward the runway. About 300-400 ft agl, he looked at his map briefly and then looked back out toward his airstrip when he felt his airplane strike something. He stated he did not see the other airplane and was focused on his landing strip. He reported that he and the other pilot usually text each other in the morning to discuss where each would be flying but that communication did not happen the morning of the
accident. The pilot stated he saw the airplane earlier that morning and thought he was still flying further away. The pilot sated he was not monitoring the dedicated radio frequency that was established for agricultural pilots in that area. The airplane received substantial damage to the left wing.
According to the pilot of N132FB, he had flown that morning and had already completed a couple aerial application jobs. When he saw the other airplane before, he was conducting applications in an area to the west of where he was flying. The pilot returned to his airstrip to reload with agent and looked over his maps to prepare for the next application flight. He took off from his airstrip, made a left turn and climbed to 500 ft in altitude. He flew to the field he was going to be spraying next but explained he had not flown the field in a while and decided to circle the field to review the terrain. He was in a 40° left bank as he turned north at the southeast corner of the field when he felt the other airplane impact his airplane. The pilot stated the other airplane came from the “5 o’clock position” and struck his right-hand step and spray boom with its left wingtip. The pilot stated he was monitoring the dedicated radio channel for agricultural pilots in the area but did not hear any radio communications from the other pilot. The airplane was not substantially damaged.
The pilots of both airplanes were able to return to their respective airstrips and land without further incident. Both pilots also reported they do not have ADSB or any other collision avoidance system installed on their respective airplanes.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information (A1)
Aircraft Make: AIR TRACTOR INC
Registration: N119KP
Model/Series: AT-602
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural aircraft (137)
Operator Designator Code:
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information (A2)
Aircraft Make: AIR TRACTOR INC
Registration: N312FB
Model/Series: AT-602
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: Agricultural aircraft (137)
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: LLQ,270 ft msl
Observation Time: 09:13 Local
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point: 14°C /13°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 3000 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , 180°
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.93 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Departure Point:
Destination:
Wreckage and Impact Information (A1)
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Unknown
Passenger Injuries
: Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.875654,-91.342513 (est)
Wreckage and Impact Information (A2)
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries:
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.875654,-91.342513 (est)
