- Date
- May 13, 1992, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- Taft, TX
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Case key
- 18493
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot of the other airplane delayed compensation for turbulence. A factor was the turbulence.
The pilots' delayed compensation for turbulence. A factor was the turbulence.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot had landed and taxied to the loading area in preparation for an aerial application run. As the pilot remained in the airplane with the engine at idle he observed the second airplane approaching the threshold for landing to the east. The pilots reported the wind from the south at 5 to 10 knots and turbulence in the vicinity of the threshold as the wind passed a hangar area near the runway. During the landing flare the airplane pilot delayed his compensation for the turbulence and the right wing of the airplane struck the rotating propeller of the standing airplane. Approximately four feet of the right wing separated from the landing airplane. The pilot applied full power and continued to a nearby airport and landed without further incidence.
During a VFR landing flare the wind was reported by the pilots as 90 degrees to the runway at approximately 10 knots. One pilot had landed and was parked in the loading area to the right of the threshold. This pilot reported turbulence in the vicinity of the landing threshold as the wind passed the hangar area near the runway. During the landing flare the second airplane pilot delayed his compensation for the turbulence. The right wing of the airplane struck the rotating propeller of the parked airplane. Approximately four feet of the right wing separated from the landing airplane. The pilot applied full power and continued to a nearby airport and landed without further incidence.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N1518V
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 401-0836
- Airframe hours
- 58
- Engine
- P&W R-1340-AN1, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Hunt, Jeffery D., doing business as Hunt Flying Service
- Registered owner
- Hunt, Jeffery D.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · February 27, 1992 · 45 hours before
- Airport
- Hunt Airport, runway 9, 2,000 × 20 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
- Registration
- N407JH
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-402
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 402-0839
- Airframe hours
- 82
- Engine
- P&W PT6A-15AG, 600 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Hunt'S Ag-Air, Inc.
- Registered owner
- Hunt'S Ag-Air, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 4, 1991 · 82 hours before
- Airport
- Hunt Airport, runway 9, 2,000 × 20 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N1518V
- Age
- 39
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 3,880 total · 162 in this make and model · 3,741 as pilot in command · 57 in the last 90 days · 39 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N407JH
- Age
- 46
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 13,045 total · 3,500 in this make and model · 110 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 180° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,500 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 73 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg