# NTSB FTW00LA233: Air Tractor AT-502, N9136U, Deerpark, LA, August 15, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 15, 2000, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Deerpark, LA - Coordinates: 31.560602, -91.440994 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.5606&lon=-91.4410&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50009 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA233 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50009/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA233 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) the failure of both pilots to maintain a visual outlook during landing approach. A contributing factor was both pilot's failure to follow recommended traffic patterns. ## Probable cause (aircraft 1) the failure of both pilots to maintain a visual outlook during landing approach. A contributing factor was both pilot's failure to follow recommended traffic patterns. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground - Midair collision, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot of other aircraft (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis (aircraft 2) The Air Tractor was on a straight-in approach for a north landing. The Schweizer had made a base leg from the west over high power lines and trees for a north landing. The Air Tractor was about 60 feet agl when the Schweizer impacted the top of its fuselage, aft of the cockpit. Both airplanes impacted the ground together about a quarter mile short of the runway. A fire destroyed both airplanes. FAA AC 90-66A, Recommended Standard Traffic Patterns And Practices for Aeronautical Operations At Airports Without Operating Control Towers, states in paragraph 8c, "arriving aircraft should be at the appropriate traffic pattern altitude before entering the traffic pattern. Entry to the downwind leg should be at a 45 degree angle abeam the midpoint of the runway." The operator reported that communication at the privately owned airport is by FM radio. The Air Tractor was not equipped with an FM radio. ## Analysis (aircraft 1) The Air Tractor was on a straight-in approach for a north landing. The Schweizer had made a base leg from the west over high power lines and trees for a north landing. The Air Tractor was about 60 feet agl when the Schweizer impacted the top of its fuselage, aft of the cockpit. Both airplanes impacted the ground together about a quarter mile short of the runway. A fire destroyed both airplanes. FAA AC 90-66A, Recommended Standard Traffic Patterns And Practices for Aeronautical Operations At Airports Without Operating Control Towers, states in paragraph 8c, that "arriving aircraft should be at the appropriate traffic pattern altitude before entering the traffic pattern. Entry to the downwind leg should be at a 45 degree angle abeam the midpoint of the runway." The operator reported that communication at the privately owned airport is by FM radio. The Air Tractor was not equipped with an FM radio. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On August 15, 2000, at 1330 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, N9136U, and a Schweizer G-164B, N944QC, both agricultural airplanes, collided in flight while landing at the F L Braughton Airport near Deerpark, Louisiana. The Air Tractor AT-502 was registered to the Lewis Flying Maintenance Service of Morse, Louisiana, and the Schweizer G-164B was registered to the Angelina Flying Service of Vidalia, Louisiana. Angelina Flying Service was the operator of both airplanes. Both flights were conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as aerial application flights. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the Air Tractor AT-502, sustained minor injuries, and the commercial pilot, sole occupant of the Schweizer G-164B, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for either flight. Both flights originated from the privately owned F L Braughton Airport, located 5 miles south of Deerpark. The Air Tractor was on a straight-in approach for a north landing. The Schweizer had made a base leg from the west over high power lines and trees for a north landing. The Air Tractor was about 60 feet agl when the Schweizer impacted the top of its fuselage, aft of the cockpit. Both airplanes impacted the ground together about a quarter mile short of the runway. A fire destroyed both airplanes. FAA AC 90-66A, Recommended Standard Traffic Patterns And Practices for Aeronautical Operations At Airports Without Operating Control Towers, states in paragraph 8c, that "arriving aircraft should be at the appropriate traffic pattern altitude before entering the traffic pattern. Entry to the downwind leg should be at a 45 degree angle abeam the midpoint of the runway." The operator reported that communication at the privately owned airport is by FM radio. The Air Tractor was not equipped with an FM radio. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 1) On August 15, 2000, at 1330 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, N9136U, and a Schweizer G-164B, N944QC, both agricultural airplanes, collided in flight while landing at the F L Braughton Airport near Deerpark, Louisiana. The Air Tractor AT-502 was registered to the Lewis Flying Maintenance Service of Morse, Louisiana, and the Schweizer G-164B was registered to the Angelina Flying Service of Vidalia, Louisiana. Angelina Flying Service was the operator of both airplanes. Both flights were conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as aerial application flights. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the Air Tractor AT-502, sustained minor injuries, and the commercial pilot, sole occupant of the Schweizer G-164B, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for either flight. Both flights originated from the privately owned F L Braughton Airport, located 5 miles south of Deerpark. The Air Tractor was on a straight-in approach for a north landing. The Schweizer had made a base leg from the west over high power lines and trees for a north landing. The Air Tractor was about 60 feet agl when the Schweizer impacted the top of its fuselage, aft of the cockpit. Both airplanes impacted the ground together about a quarter mile short of the runway. A fire destroyed both airplanes. FAA AC 90-66A, Recommended Standard Traffic Patterns And Practices for Aeronautical Operations At Airports Without Operating Control Towers, states in paragraph 8c, that "arriving aircraft should be at the appropriate traffic pattern altitude before entering the traffic pattern. Entry to the downwind leg should be at a 45 degree angle abeam the midpoint of the runway." The operator reported that communication at the privately owned airport is by FM radio. The Air Tractor was not equipped with an FM radio. ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N9136U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9136U), registered now, S/N 502-0204, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-502 - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-502](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-502) (registry code 0390303) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 502-0204 - Airframe hours: 4983 - Engines: P&W PT6-34 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Angelina Flying Service - Registered owner: Lewis Flying Maintenance Svc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 29, 2000, 50 hours before - Departed: NONE - Airport: LA40, F L Braughton, runway 18, 3,000 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N944QC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N944QC-2005-04-20), registration cancelled 2005-04-20, S/N 697 B (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Schweizer G-164B - Registry model: [Schweizer G-164B](https://openairdocs.org/model/schweizer-g-164b) (registry code 8059055) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 697B - Airframe hours: 4629 - Engines: Garrett TPE331-1012 665 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Angelina Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, December 31, 1999, 567 hours before - Departed: NONE - Airport: LA40, F L Braughton, runway 18, 3,000 × 30 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N9136U; age 23; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 3,000 total, 500 in this make and model, 2,800 as pilot in command, 300 in the last 90 days, 150 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours - Pilot, aircraft N944QC; age 48; commercial; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 15,364 total, 1,350 in this make and model, 15,200 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 208 °F ## 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 20000815006659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000815006659A), Aug 15, 2000: Airtrc AT502, Deer Park, LA, No damage. (-23) A/c established on final approach when propellor strikes occurred just aft of the cockpit from second company a/c which failed to see and avoid the lower… - [Accident 20000815007879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000815007879A), Aug 15, 2000: Scwzer G164B, Deer Park, LA, No damage. (-23) The pilot was briefly established on final when propellor strikes occurred on another company a/c that was below and slightly ahead of him on a quarter… 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.