Air Tractor AT-502B N6177J
11 July 2024 · Bonita, Louisiana, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 11 July 2024 at about 19:07 local time, a Air Tractor AT-502B registered N6177J, operated by McGinty Flying Service LLC, was involved in an accident near Bonita, Louisiana, United States. 2 people were on board and one died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 19:07
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bonita, Louisiana, United States
- Coordinates
- 32.9297, -91.6162
- Aircraft
- Air Tractor AT-502B
- Registration
- N6177J
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1995
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- McGinty Flying Service LLC
- Operating rule
- Part 137: Agricultural
- Purpose of flight
- Aerial Application
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Jones → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Destroyed
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN24FA260
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other airplane while at low altitude enroute to their aerial application flights.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Both agricultural airplanes were en route to their respective agricultural aerial application locations when they collided about 175 ft above ground level (agl). After the collision, N6177J descended into the terrain and was destroyed and N795LA sustained minor damage and landed at the departure airstrip. According to the pilot of N795LA, he departed the private airstrip and observed N6177J about 100 ft to his left at the same altitude. He pulled back on the control stick to avoid N6177J. Shortly after he felt an impact and heard a bang, but he was able to control the airplane after the collision. The two pilots were not communicating by radio. The investigation revealed that both pilots were in positions to see the other airplane in time to avoid a collision. An examination of both airplanes revealed no evidence of any preexisting malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. The toxicology results for the pilot of N6177J indicated that he had used the medications oxybutynin and diphenhydramine, both of which have a potential to cause sedation and cognitive and psychomotor slowing. Although the pilot may have been experiencing impairing effects of these medications at the time of the accident, no more specific conclusions about his impairment could be drawn. Additionally, his autopsy report indicated atherosclerotic disease, which is associated with some increased risk of experiencing a sudden impairing or incapacitating cardiovascular event, such as arrhythmia, heart attack, or stroke. There was no autopsy evidence that such an event occurred; however, such an event does not leave reliable autopsy evidence if it occurs immediately before death.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Aircraft involved
| Aircraft | Registration | Operator | Damage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Tractor AT-502B | N6177J | McGinty Flying Service LLC | Destroyed |
| Air Tractor AT-802A | N795LA | ArklaFlyers, Inc | Minor |
Other Air Tractor AT-502B accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 Apr 2024 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Olney, Texas, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 3 Jun 2023 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Lake Village, Arkansas, United States | Baylee Company Inc | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jun 2023 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Bakersfield, California, United States | Wheeler Ridge Aviation Inc | Minor injuries | - |
| 24 Oct 2023 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Vidalia, Louisiana, United States | Ferriday Flying Service Inc | Fatal | 1 |
| 23 Jun 2025 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Charleston, Missouri, United States | Thompson Flying Service LLC | Minor injuries | - |
| 10 Aug 2025 | Air Tractor AT-502B | Goodland, Kansas, United States | Midwest Custom Ag Aviation, Inc | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Jun 2024 | Boeing E75 | Shuteston, Louisiana, United States | Tailwinds Air Inc | No injuries | - |
| 1 Jan 2024 | Beechcraft C23 | Mansfield, Louisiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 2 Nov 2024 | Robinson R44 II | Iowa, Louisiana, United States | Savant Aviation LLC | Fatal | 3 |
| 12 Sep 2024 | Beechcraft G36 | Lafayette, Louisiana, United States | Regal Air Partners II LLC | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Feb 2024 | Pulsar I | Patterson, Louisiana, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Mar 2024 | Bell 206B | Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States | State of Louisiana | No injuries | - |