CEN21LA161

Two agricultural application airplanes were operating at low altitude and in proximity to the other. One pilot intended to land at an airstrip, and the other pilot circled a field to scout for obstacles. Both pilots, while focused on their specific tasks, failed to visually identify the other airplane; as a result, the airplanes collided in flight. Both airplanes landed without further incident. One airplane sustained substantial damage and the other sustained minor damage.

On March 15, 2021, about 0940 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-602 airplane, N119KP, sustained substantial damage and another Air Tractor AT-602 airplane, N312FB, sustained minor damage when they were involved in a midair collision accident near Dumas, Arkansas. Neither pilot sustained injuries. Both airplanes were operated as Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flights. According to the pilot of N119KP, when he had the landing airstrip in sight, he began to descend the airplane. When the airplane descended through an altitude of about 300 to 400 ft above ground level, the pilot looked briefly at his map then looked out toward the airstrip when he felt something strike the left wingtip of his airplane. The pilot landed the airplane without further incident. A posaccident photograph showed substantial damage to the left wing. According to the pilot of N312FB, he flew to a field to be sprayed and circled over it to check for obstacles before the application. The airplane was about 400 ft above ground level in a 40° to 45° left bank when the pilot felt the other airplane impact his airplane. The pilot stated the other airplane came from the “5 o’clock position” and that its left wingtip struck his airplane’s right-side step and spray boom. The pilot landed the airplane without incident. The airplane sustained minor damage to the fuselage and spray boom. Neither pilot reported any mechanical malfunctions that could have contributed to the accident. Both pilots worked for different operators, and neither pilot was in radio contact, nor were they required to be in radio contact, with the other pilot. Neither airplane was equipped, and neither was required to be equipped, with an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast unit for Part 137 operations.