# NTSB ATL01LA063: Air Tractor 502B, N257LA, Anguilla, MS, June 2, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 2, 2001, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Anguilla, MS - Coordinates: 32.969955, -90.820182 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9700&lon=-90.8202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Jackson FSDO-07 - NTSB case key (mKey): 52435 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL01LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52435/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL01LA063 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) Failure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout, resulting in an in-flight collision. A factor was sun glare. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) Failure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout, resulting in an in-flight collision. The air tractor pilot operated the positioning flight at an altitude below 500 feet agl. Valium was detected in the toxicological examination of the Air Tractor pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, cruise - visual lookout - not maintained, pilots of both aircraft (cause) - vfr procedures - not followed, pilot in command (cause) - use of inappropriate medication/drug, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - Midair collision, maneuvering - aerial application - visual lookout - not maintained, pilots of both aircraft (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis (aircraft 2) See narrative ATL01LA063A. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) Two agricultural airplanes, an Air Tractor 502B and a Cessna 188, collided in flight at low altitude over a field. The Cessna was working a field, and the Air Tractor was ferrying between aerial application sites when the collision occurred. Examination of both wreckage revealed that the right wing of the Cessna collided with the right elevator of the air tractor. The collision altitude was not determined. The right -a-way rule states that the airplane to the right has the right-a-way. Valium was also detected in tissue samples from the Air tractor pilot. The sun position limited the visibility of the Cessna pilot. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) See narrative ATL01LA063A. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On June 2, 2001, at 0800 central daylight time, an Air Tractor 502B, N257LA, and a Cessna 188, N731KG, collided in flight two miles north of Anguilla, Mississippi. The agricultural flights were operated by Nick's Flying Service, Inc., and Anguilla Flying Service, Inc., respectively, under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 137. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. Both airplanes were destroyed, and the Cessna was consumed by post-crash fire. Both commercial pilots were fatally injured. The Air Tractor departed a private airstrip at Rolling Fork, Mississippi, about 0735, and the Cessna departed a private airstrip in Anguilla, Mississippi, about 0750. According to information recovered from Anguilla Flying Service, Inc., the Cessna had departed the private airstrip about 10 minutes before the accident, and was spraying a field adjacent to the east side of the field over which the collision occurred. The review of information from the operator revealed that the Cessna appeared to have been on a easterly heading for the initial swath run to a field about 500 feet east of the in-flight collision. According to information recovered from Nick's Flying Service, Inc., the Air Tractor had completed an aerial application operation to a field four miles north of the accident site, and was enroute to another field miles south of the accident site. Reportedly, the Air Tractor, the Air Tractor was flying enroute at a low altitude between the two locations, and the south bound direct flight path placed the airplanes over the accident site. The altitude at which the collisions occurred was not determined, however the Cessna was operating in accordance with FAR Part 137.49 for altitude and object clearance. Examination of the accident site showed that, the in-flight collision resulted in both airplanes colliding with the ground in a steep, nose-down, nearly wings-level attitude. The Cessna was consumed by post-crash fire. Further examination of the accident site found the Air Tractor wreckage approximately 947 feet south of what was determined to be the mid-air impact point. The Cessna wreckage was located approximately 426 feet east of the mid-air impact point. The airplanes' ground-impact points were approximately 1,004 feet apart. An area approximately 50 feet in diameter contained the Air Tractor's outboard piece of the right horizontal stabilizer and the right elevator, as well as the Cessna's right wingtip faring and a portion of the right aileron. Also present were scattered paint chips, rivet heads, and small pieces of sheet metal. Examination of the wreckage also revealed that the propellers assemblies from both airplanes showed evidence of power-on rotation at impact. Continuity of flight controls was not established on the Cessna due to extreme fire damage. Continuity of flight controls was confirmed on the Air Tractor. No mechanical irregularities and no pre-collision failures were noted of either airplane during the investigation. The sun inclination and azimuth for the accident location was 48.8 degrees inclination at 93.2 degrees. Dr. Steven T. Hayne, FCAP, of the Mississippi State Medical Examiner's Office, Brandon, Mississippi, conducted postmortem examinations of both pilots on June 3, 2001. The FAA's Toxicology and Research Laboratory in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed forensic toxicology on both pilots. Forensic toxicology performed on specimens from the Air Tractor pilot detected 0.047 (ug/ml, ug/g) diazepam (valium-sedative) in the blood, 0.06 (ug/ml, ug/g) nordiazepam in the blood, 0.172 (ug/ml, ug/g) nordiazepam in the urine, as well as the presence of temazepam and oxazepam in the urine. Forensic toxicology performed on specimens from the Cessna pilot detected quinine in the kidney and liver. A review of the Federal Aviation Regulations disclosed that when converging airplanes at the same altitude, the airplane to the right has the right -a-way. The FARs further states that the minimum safe altitude over other than congested areas is 500 feet above the surface except over sparsely populated areas, and in those cases the aircraft may not operate closer that 500 feet to any person, vessel, vehicle, or structure (FAR Part 91,113, 91.119). ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N257LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N257LA-2013-02-13), registration cancelled 2013-02-13, S/N 502B-0257, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor 502B - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502B](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502b) (registry code 0390307) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502B-0257 - Airframe hours: 4178 - Engines: P&W P76A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Dewby, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 8, 2001, 188.7 hours before - Departed: Rolling Fork, MS - Airport: Angilla Flying Service (PVT) ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N731KG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N731KG-2018-01-26), registration cancelled 2018-01-26, S/N 18802949T, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 188B - Registry model: [Cessna A188B](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a188b) (registry code 2073005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18802949T - Airframe hours: 8300 - Engines: Lycoming IO-720 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Anguilla Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 18, 2000 - Departed: Rolling Fork, MS - Airport: Angilla Flying Service (PVT) ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N257LA; age 25; injuries: fatal; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review February 7, 2001; seat: center; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,700 total, 200 in this make and model - Pilot, aircraft N731KG; age 54; injuries: fatal; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 25,000 total, 18,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: KGWO ## FAA reports on this event (2) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20010602010441A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010602010441A), Jun 2, 2001: Airtrc AT502B, Auguilla, MS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23)Two aircraft, an air tractor-502-B, reg# N257LA and a Cessna CE-188-188B, reg #731KG, collided in flight during aerial application activity. The right… - [Accident 20010602010442A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010602010442A), Jun 2, 2001: Cessna 188B, Anguilla, MS, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23)Two aircraft, a Cessna CE-188-A188B, reg# N731KG and an airtractor AT-502-B, reg# N257LA, collided in flight during aerial application activity. The right… 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. --- 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.