CHI05FA055

A U.S. Air Force twin jet military trainer, a Cessna T-37B, and a single-engine agricultural aircraft, an Air Tractor AT-502B, were destroyed following a midair collision during cruise flight. The training jet was returning to its home military base after a training flight. The training jet had climbed VFR to 5,500 feet msl, and then was instructed to descend to 5,000 feet msl on a 100 degree magnetic heading. After about a minute or less of level flight at 5,000 feet msl, the T-37B impacted the agricultural aircraft which was flying on a heading of about 355 to 005 degrees magnetic. The radar approach control facility that was providing radar services to the T-37B did not have radar recording capability, therefore, no radar track data was available for analysis. Air traffic controllers who were working the T-37B reported seeing the T-37B at 5,000 feet on their radar displays prior to the mid-air collision. The air traffic controllers reported that they did not observe primary radar returns on the AT-502B. The AT-502B was a factory new aircraft that was being ferried to South Dakota. It was not equipped with radios or a transponder. The magnetic heading and altitudes flown by the AT-502B pilot are unknown due to the lack of radar data. The T-37B instructor pilot reported there was an overcast ceiling around 6,000 to 6,500 feet msl, and that the visibility at 5,500 feet msl was about 3 miles due to haze. The VFR cruising altitudes, as prescribed in FAR 91.159, for level cruising flight for 3,000 feet above the surface and below 18,000 feet MSL are as follows: "(1) On a magnetic course of zero degrees through 179 degrees, any odd thousand foot MSL altitude +500 feet (such as 3,500, 5,500, or 7,500); or (2) On a magnetic course of 180 degrees through 359 degrees, any even thousand foot MSL altitude +500 feet (such as 4,500, 6,500, or 8,500)." The airspace at the accident location is designated as Class E airspace. Class E airspace is defined by the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) as: "generally, if the airspace is not Class A, Class B, Class D, and it is controlled airspace, it is Class E airspace." No specific pilot certification or specific aircraft equipment is required to fly in Class E airspace. No separation services are provided to VFR aircraft operating in Class E airspace.

A U.S. Air Force twin jet military trainer, a Cessna T-37B, and a single-engine agricultural aircraft, an Air Tractor AT-502B, were destroyed following a midair collision during cruise flight. The training jet was returning to its home military base after a training flight. The training jet had climbed VFR to 5,500 feet msl, and then was instructed to descend to 5,000 feet msl on a 100 degree magnetic heading. After about a minute or less of level flight at 5,000 feet msl, the T-37B impacted the agricultural aircraft which was flying on a heading of about 355 to 005 degrees magnetic. The radar approach control facility that was providing radar services to the T-37B did not have radar recording capability, therefore, no radar track data was available for analysis. Air traffic controllers who were working the T-37B reported seeing the T-37B at 5,000 feet on their radar displays prior to the mid-air collision. The air traffic controllers reported that they did not observe primary radar returns on the AT-502B. The AT-502B was a factory new aircraft that was being ferried to South Dakota. It was not equipped with radios or a transponder. The magnetic heading and altitudes flown by the AT-502B pilot are unknown due to the lack of radar data. The T-37B instructor pilot reported there was an overcast ceiling around 6,000 to 6,500 feet msl, and that the visibility at 5,500 feet msl was about 3 miles due to haze. The VFR cruising altitudes, as prescribed in FAR 91.159, for level cruising flight for 3,000 feet above the surface and below 18,000 feet MSL are as follows: "(1) On a magnetic course of zero degrees through 179 degrees, any odd thousand foot MSL altitude +500 feet (such as 3,500, 5,500, or 7,500); or (2) On a magnetic course of 180 degrees through 359 degrees, any even thousand foot MSL altitude +500 feet (such as 4,500, 6,500, or 8,500)." The airspace at the accident location is designated as Class E airspace. Class E airspace is defined by the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) as: "generally, if the airspace is not Class A, Class B, Class D, and it is controlled airspace, it is Class E airspace." No specific pilot certification or specific aircraft equipment is required to fly in Class E airspace. No separation services are provided to VFR aircraft operating in Class E airspace.

History of flight

On January 18, 2005, approximately 1128 central standard time, an Air Tractor AT-502B single-engine agricultural airplane, N8526M, and a Cessna T-37B, a twin-turbojet military trainer, tail number 66-8003, operating under the call sign Cider 21, were destroyed following a midair collision during cruise flight near Hollister, Oklahoma. The AT-502B was registered to a private individual and operated by a commercial pilot. The T-37B was registered to and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). The commercial pilot in the AT-502B was fatally injured. The USAF flight instructor pilot was not injured and the USAF student pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the airplanes were operating in Class E airspace. The AT-502B was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 for the delivery flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The T-37B was in radar contact with approach control and was operating under Air Force Instructions (AFI) 11-202, Volume III. The cross-country flight for the AT-502B originated from the Olney Municipal Airport, near Olney, Texas, approximately 1100, and was destined for Huron, South Dakota, with an intermediate fuel stop in Hutchinson, Kansas. The local flight for the T-37B originated from the Sheppard Air Force Base (SPS), near Wichita Falls, Texas, approximately 1022.

According to company personnel from an Air Tractor dealership in Arkansas, the pilot was hired to deliver the recently purchased AT-502B to the new owner in Huron, South Dakota. Company personnel at the Air Tractor factory located in Olney, Texas, reported that the AT-502B was equipped with basic visual flight rules (VFR) instruments and was not equipped with any radios or a transponder.

During an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the USAF flight instructor and student pilot reported that they were on a routine mission training flight (C2803). After a non-eventful departure from SPS, they performed two normal overhead approaches to SPS before being cleared into the Military Operations Area (MOA). After completing the series of high altitude maneuvers, the training flight received radar vectors to the RANCH intersection and then to the Frederick Municipal Airport (FDR), near Frederick, Oklahoma, which is commonly referred to by the USAF as "Hacker." As the flight descended to an altitude of 6,000 feet, the instructor noted the bottom of the overcast cloud ceiling to be between 6,000 and 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl).

After arriving at Hacker, the training flight performed a straight in no flap landing, and requested left closed traffic for practice landings. After completing a normal overhead approach and a single-engine landing, the flight proceeded to depart Hacker's airspace to the east and climbed to 5,500 feet msl.

The student pilot reported that he performed the en route portion of his checklist and contacted USAF Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) to notify them they were en route back to Sheppard Air Force Base and requested the "home plate" arrival. RAPCON advised the flight that they had radar contact, and to descend to 5,000 feet msl on a heading of 100 degrees.

The student pilot reported that after he leveled off at 5,000 feet msl at an indicated airspeed of 200 knots, the flight instructor took control of the T-37B. The student pilot stated that as the flight instructor took control of the aircraft, he scanned outside the airplane to the left, and started to look back to the right when he saw the yellow Air Tractor heading toward the right side of the T-37B. He reported, "… I saw the crop duster and it was just an immediate … it wasn't like I saw him moving, it's just like it grew and my jaw just dropped and I didn't say anything. I was just … I just said, "Sir," because I was just shocked and as soon as I said that, we just impacted and went out of control."

The instructor pilot stated that he took control of the airplane while still in the descent and he leveled the airplane at 5,000 feet msl. He reported that he briefly scanned at the student pilot's altimeter on the left side of the instrument panel (a standard practice for T-37 flight instructors). As he was turning his head back to the right, he noticed a "high visibility yellow airplane" out of the right corner of his eye, but did not have time to take evasive action.

Both pilots reported that the T-37B was level at 5,000 feet msl for about one minute or less before impact with the AT-502B. The instructor and student pilot recalled feeling a spinning sensation and rolling inverted. Both the instructor and student pilot initiated emergency egress procedures and ejected from the aircraft.

The T-37B and AT-502B impacted farm fields about 3.5 nautical miles (nm) east of Hollister, Oklahoma. Both aircraft were partially consumed by post impact fires.

A witness located north of the accident site reported in a written statement that he observed an aircraft descending rapidly in a nose down attitude and on fire prior to losing sight of it behind a tree line. Subsequently, the witness observed a second aircraft spinning in a nose down attitude, and it was missing a wing. The witness added that a plume of smoke was originating from the airplane but he didn't see any flames. As the airplane continued to descend, he noticed two parachutes on each side of the airplane, and he decided to proceed to the area to see if he could assist the pilots.

Personnel information

The pilot of the AT-502B held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane ratings. Review of the pilot's logbook revealed he had accumulated a total of 7,545 hours of flight time, of which 562 hours were in multi-engine aircraft. He logged 72 hours in the last 90 days and had flown 58 hours in the last 30 days. The pilot had logged 3,255 hours in AT-502B's between February 2000 and January 2004. The pilot owned a Beech B-55 Baron and logged about 115 hours in the last 12 months. The pilot was last issued a second-class medical on March 29, 2004, with no limitations stated.

The USAF flight instructor was a qualified flight instructor for the T-37B. Review of the flight instructor's flight records revealed that he had accumulated a total of 1,142 hours of USAF flight time, of which 748.5 hours were in B-52H's. He had flown 347 hours in T-37B's. Within the last 30 days, the instructor had accumulated 9.3 flight hours. The pilot reported that he had obtained a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Private pilot's certificate with a single-engine land rating and had logged about 55 hours of civilian flight time prior to entering USAF flight training. He held a second class medical certificate.

The USAF student pilot was in the first stage of his initial flight training. Review of the student pilot's flight records revealed that he had accumulated a total of 34.4 hours of flight time, all of which was in the T-37B. Within the last 30 days, the student pilot had accumulated 12.3 flight hours. The student pilot reported that he had obtained a FAA private pilot's certificate with a single-engine land and an instrument rating prior to entering the USAF. He had a total of 156 civilian flight hours. He held a second class medical certificate.

Aircraft information

The Air Tractor AT-502B, serial number 502B-2570, was a low wing, tailwheel equipped, steel tubular frame design airplane with a fixed landing gear. The airplane was configured for a maximum seating configuration of one occupant, and was configured for agricultural spraying operations. The airplane was powered by a Pratt and Whitney PT6A-34AG turbine engine, rated at 750 shaft horsepower, with a three bladed Hartzell constant speed propeller, model number HC-B3TN-3D/T10282NS+4. The airplane's maximum certified gross weight was 9,7

History of flight

On January 18, 2005, approximately 1128 central standard time, a Cessna T-37B, a twin-turbojet military trainer, tail number 66-8003, operating under the call sign Cider 21, and an Air Tractor AT-502B single-engine agricultural airplane, N8526M, were destroyed following a midair collision during cruise flight near Hollister, Oklahoma. The T-37B was registered to and operated by the United States Air Force (USAF). The AT-502B was registered to a private individual and operated by a commercial pilot. The USAF flight instructor pilot was not injured and the USAF student pilot sustained minor injuries. The commercial pilot in the AT-502B was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the airplanes were operating in Class E airspace. The T-37B was in radar contact with approach control and was operating under Air Force Instructions (AFI) 11-202, Volume III. The AT-502B was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 for the delivery flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight for the T-37B originated from the Sheppard Air Force Base (SPS), near Wichita Falls, Texas, approximately 1022. The cross-country flight for the AT-502B originated from the Olney Municipal Airport, near Olney, Texas, approximately 1100, and was destined for Huron, South Dakota, with an intermediate fuel stop in Hutchinson, Kansas.

According to company personnel from an Air Tractor dealership in Arkansas, the pilot was hired to deliver the recently purchased AT-502B to the new owner in Huron, South Dakota. Company personnel at the Air Tractor factory located in Olney, Texas, reported that the AT-502B was equipped with basic visual flight rules (VFR) instruments and was not equipped with any radios or a transponder.

During an interview with the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC), the USAF flight instructor and student pilot reported that they were on a routine mission training flight (C2803). After a non-eventful departure from SPS, they performed two normal overhead approaches to SPS before being cleared into the Military Operations Area (MOA). After completing the series of high altitude maneuvers, the training flight received radar vectors to the RANCH intersection and then to the Frederick Municipal Airport (FDR), near Frederick, Oklahoma, which is commonly referred to by the USAF as "Hacker." As the flight descended to an altitude of 6,000 feet, the instructor noted the bottom of the overcast cloud ceiling to be between 6,000 and 6,500 feet mean sea level (msl).

After arriving at Hacker, the training flight performed a straight in no flap landing, and requested left closed traffic for practice landings. After completing a normal overhead approach and a single-engine landing, the flight proceeded to depart Hacker's airspace to the east and climbed to 5,500 feet msl.

The student pilot reported that he performed the en route portion of his checklist and contacted USAF Radar Approach Control (RAPCON) to notify them they were en route back to Sheppard Air Force Base and requested the "home plate" arrival. RAPCON advised the flight that they had radar contact, and to descend to 5,000 feet msl on a heading of 100 degrees.

The student pilot reported that after he leveled off at 5,000 feet msl at an indicated airspeed of 200 knots, the flight instructor took control of the T-37B. The student pilot stated that as the flight instructor took control of the aircraft, he scanned outside the airplane to the left, and started to look back to the right when he saw the yellow Air Tractor heading toward the right side of the T-37B. He reported, "… I saw the crop duster and it was just an immediate … it wasn't like I saw him moving, it's just like it grew and my jaw just dropped and I didn't say anything. I was just … I just said, "Sir," because I was just shocked and as soon as I said that, we just impacted and went out of control."

The instructor pilot stated that he took control of the airplane while still in the descent and he leveled the airplane at 5,000 feet msl. He reported that he briefly scanned at the student pilot's altimeter on the left side of the instrument panel (a standard practice for T-37 flight instructors). As he was turning his head back to the right, he noticed a "high visibility yellow airplane" out of the right corner of his eye, but did not have time to take evasive action.

Both pilots reported that the T-37B was level at 5,000 feet msl for about one minute or less before impact with the AT-502B. The instructor and student pilot recalled feeling a spinning sensation and rolling inverted. Both the instructor and student pilot initiated emergency egress procedures and ejected from the aircraft.

The T-37B and AT-502B impacted farm fields about 3.5 nautical miles (nm) east of Hollister, Oklahoma. Both aircraft were partially consumed by post impact fires.

A witness located north of the accident site reported in a written statement that he observed an aircraft descending rapidly in a nose down attitude and on fire prior to losing sight of it behind a tree line. Subsequently, the witness observed a second aircraft spinning in a nose down attitude, and it was missing a wing. The witness added that a plume of smoke was originating from the airplane but he didn't see any flames. As the airplane continued to descend, he noticed two parachutes on each side of the airplane, and he decided to proceed to the area to see if he could assist the pilots.

Personnel information

The pilot of the AT-502B held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single-engine land, multi-engine land, and instrument airplane ratings. Review of the pilot's logbook revealed he had accumulated a total of 7,545 hours of flight time, of which 562 hours were in multi-engine aircraft. He logged 72 hours in the last 90 days and had flown 58 hours in the last 30 days. The pilot had logged 3,255 hours in AT-502B's between February 2000 and January 2004. The pilot owned a Beech B-55 Baron and logged about 115 hours in the last 12 months. The pilot was last issued a second-class medical on March 29, 2004, with no limitations stated.

The USAF flight instructor was a qualified flight instructor for the T-37B. Review of the flight instructor's flight records revealed that he had accumulated a total of 1,142 hours of USAF flight time, of which 748.5 hours were in B-52H's. He had flown 347 hours in T-37B's. Within the last 30 days, the instructor had accumulated 9.3 flight hours. The pilot reported that he had obtained a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Private pilot's certificate with a single-engine land rating and had logged about 55 hours of civilian flight time prior to entering USAF flight training. He held a second class medical certificate.

The USAF student pilot was in the first stage of his initial flight training. Review of the student pilot's flight records revealed that he had accumulated a total of 34.4 hours of flight time, all of which was in the T-37B. Within the last 30 days, the student pilot had accumulated 12.3 flight hours. The student pilot reported that he had obtained a FAA private pilot's certificate with a single-engine land and an instrument rating prior to entering the USAF. He had a total of 156 civilian flight hours. He held a second class medical certificate.

Aircraft information

The Cessna T-37B military turbojet airplane, serial 66-8003 was a low-wing, dual control trainer, featuring side by side seating with a maximum of two occupants. The T-37B was powered by two Continental J69-T-25A turbojet engines, rated at approximately 1,025 pounds of thrust each. The T-37B was also equipped with a two-position speed break, spoilers, thrust attenuators, a jettisonable canopy, and two ejection seats. The wingspan of the T-37B was 33.8 feet.

The most recent inspection that the T-37B underwent was a periodic ph