Air Tractor AT-802A N4126T
23 May 2012 · Sedgwick, Arkansas, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 23 May 2012 at about 15:49 local time, a Air Tractor AT-802A registered N4126T was involved in an accident near Sedgwick, Arkansas, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 15:49
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Sedgwick, Arkansas, United States
- Coordinates
- 35.9736, -90.7767
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-802A
- Registration
- N4126T
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Bono → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN12FA312
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The inability of both pilots to see and avoid the other resulting in a midair collision. Contributing to the accident was the distraction of the Air Tractor pilot by his cellular telephone conversation during the flight.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot of the Grumman reported that he approached the field from the northeast with the intention of starting a spray run on the south side of the field, traveling to the southwest. Consistent with local aerial application procedures, the Grumman pilot performed a high-altitude aerial survey of the field he intended to spray before he began his first spray run; he did not observe any other airplanes operating in that area. The Air Tractor pilot departed his private airstrip with the intention of applying herbicide to a rice crop located just south of the field being sprayed by the Grumman, in a north and south application pattern. Global positioning system data recovered from the Air Tractor showed its easterly departure from the private airstrip and flight toward the field intended for application, followed by a left turn and a northerly pass over the field. The pilot of the Grumman stated that he had completed about 50% of his first spray pass when the airplanes collided and that he did not see the Air Tractor before the collision. Postaccident examination of the engine and flight control systems on both airplanes revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have prevented either pilot from maneuvering to avoid an impact. A review of both pilots’ medical records and postaccident medical and pathological examination of the Air Tractor pilot revealed no medical or toxicological issues that would have precluded either pilot from operating his airplane in a safe manner before the accident. Cellular telephone records for the pilot of the Air Tractor indicate that the pilot initiated a telephone conversation with a local farmer (for operational purposes) before his flight and he was still on the telephone with the farmer at the time of the collision. The Air Tractor pilot might have surveyed the area for traffic (in accordance with standard procedures) before he performed his initial pass over the field or scanned the area more actively during his initial pass if he had not been distracted by the telephone call. Based on the airplanes’ flight attitudes and headings at the time of impact, it would have been difficult for either pilot to see the other airplane in time to avoid the collision. In addition, it is likely that the pilot of the Air Tractor was distracted by his telephone conversation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Tractor AT-802A | N4126T | - | Substantial |
| Grumman G-164C | N996QC | - | Substantial |
Other Air Tractor AT-802A accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2011 | Air Tractor AT-802A | Horseshoe Lake, Arkansas, United States | Frost Flying Service | Minor injuries | - |
| 19 Apr 2011 | Air Tractor AT-802A | New Madrid, Missouri, United States | Hampton Flying Service LLC | Serious injuries | - |
| 16 Jun 2013 | Air Tractor AT-802A | Minot, North Dakota, United States | Pioneer Agviation Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 9 May 2011 | Air Tractor AT-802A | Miles City, Montana, United States | Taylor Aviation Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 19 Jul 2013 | Air Tractor AT-802A | Huntingburg, Indiana, United States | Milhon Air Inc | Serious injuries | - |
| 28 Jul 2014 | Air Tractor AT 802A | Hazelton, Idaho, United States | Red Baron AG Service Inc | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 Jul 2012 | Cessna 177B | Lakeview, Arkansas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 21 Apr 2012 | Moody-Siple A | Stuttgart, Arkansas, United States | Broadbent E RAY II | No injuries | - |
| 7 Jun 2012 | Grumman G164 | Higginson, Arkansas, United States | J P Freppon Flying Service, LLC | No injuries | - |
| 1 Dec 2012 | American Champion 8KCAB | Melbourne, Arkansas, United States | Christine Dawe | No injuries | - |
| 21 Jul 2012 | Mooney M20E | Marked Tree, Arkansas, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Dec 2012 | Mooney M20E | Gurdon, Arkansas, United States | Roy Ricketts | No injuries | - |