# Incident 20240711021092I: Air Tractor Inc AT-802A, Bonita, LA, July 11, 2024 - Type: FAA incident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: July 11, 2024, 14:07 local time - Place: Bonita, LA - Airport: Arkla Flyers Inc - Damage: Minor damage - Collision: Midair collision - Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight - Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137) - Operator: SLYG - Location: 32.9297° N, 91.6162° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9297&lon=-91.6162&mi=10 - Aircraft: N795LA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N795LA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Air Tractor AT-802A (registry code 0390308, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-802a) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-65AG (registry code 52109, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-65ag) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIR TRACTOR INC AT-802A - Reported engine: P&W CANADA PT6A-65AG - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot - Pilot flight hours: 37,000 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24FA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA260) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240711021092I ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON 07/11/2024, AT APPROXIMATELY 1407 CDT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AIR TRACTOR-802A (802) AGRICULTURE AIRPLANE WAS INVOLVED IN A MIDAIR ACCIDENT WITH ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^AIR TRACTOR-502B (502) IN WHICH THE PILOT (SOLE OCCUPANT) OF 502 WAS FATALLY INJURED. BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE CONDUCTING 14 CFR 137 OPERATIONS AND WERE ENROUTE TO APPLY THEIR LAST LOADS OF THE DAY WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. 802 TOOK OFF FROM ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ RUNWAY (5LS6) AND HEADED EAST TO APPLY AGRICULTURAL FERTILIZER. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, PILOT STATED THAT THEY SAW 502 FLYING SOUTHWEST FROM ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^AT AROUND THE SAME ALTITUDE AND IN EXTREMELY CLOSE PROXIMITY. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, BOTH AIRCRAFT PULLED UP IMMEDIATELY TO AVOID EACH OTHER WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED, 802’S RIGHT HAND MAIN TIRE MADE CONTACT WITH 502’S LEFT HAND WING, SHEERING A LARGE PORTION OF THE WINGTIP WHICH DEPARTED FROM 502 AND FELL INTO A WOODED AREA BELOW. THE WING TIP WAS RECOVERED AT APPROXIMATELY 258 YARDS NORTHEAST FROM THE CRASH SITE. 802 ALSO MADE CONTACT WITH 502’S VERTICAL STABILIZER WHICH REMOVED 802’S TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY AND WAS RECOVERED IN A NEARBY RICE FIELD APPROXIMATELY 507 YARDS NORTHEAST OF THE CRASH SITE AND 268 YARDS EAST FROM 502’S LEFT HAND WING SECTION. 502 INITIALLY IMPACTED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF DUMMIE LINE RD IN BONITA LOUISIANA AND BROKE APART ACROSS THE DIRT ROAD. LEAVING THE PROPELLER, ENGINE, MAIN LANDING GEAR, AND SURROUNDING AIRFRAME SCATTERED ACROSS THE ROAD HEADING SOUTH. THE WINGS, COCKPIT, AND FUSELAGE CONTINUED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD INTO A CANAL WHERE THE WINGS SEPARATED FROM THE COCKPIT AND FUSELAGE TO REST IN THE WATER. THE FUSELAGE AND COCKPIT CONTINUED TO ROLL UP THE SOUTH EMBANKMENT OF THE CANAL AND CAME TO REST UPSIDE DOWN WITH THE TAIL SECTION FACING TO THE SOUTH. 802’S PILOT STATED THAT THEY SAW A FIREBALL EMANATE FROM THE CRASH SITE AND CONTINUED ON 12 MILES TO THE EAST TO DISTRIBUTE FERTILIZER FOR THE CROP SITE. ONCE PILOT DISTRIBUTED THE LOAD, FLEW BACK TO ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. 802 LANDED SAFELY FOR INSPECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF TAIL WHEEL ASSEMBLY. CERTIFIED AIRWORTHY BY MECHANIC PRIOR TO INSPECTORS ON SCENE. ## Other aircraft in the event - N6177J, Air Tractor Inc AT-502B: [Accident 20240711008782A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240711008782A) ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB CEN24FA260](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24FA260), Jul 11, 2024: Air Tractor AT-802A (N795LA), Bonita, LA, minor damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other airplane while at low altitude enroute to their aerial application flights. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.