# NTSB FTW92LA131: Air Tractor AT-401, N1518V, Taft, TX, May 13, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 13, 1992, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Taft, TX
- Coordinates: 27.979829, -97.389274 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9798&lon=-97.3893&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 18493
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW92LA131
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/18493/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW92LA131

## Probable cause (aircraft 2)

THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRPLANE DELAYED COMPENSATION FOR TURBULENCE. A FACTOR WAS THE TURBULENCE.

## Probable cause (aircraft 1)

THE PILOTS' DELAYED COMPENSATION FOR TURBULENCE. A FACTOR WAS THE TURBULENCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight encounter with weather, landing - flare/touchdown
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)
  - compensation for wind conditions - delayed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - aircraft parked/standing
- On ground/water collision with object, standing - engine(s) operating
  - compensation for wind conditions - delayed, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
  - weather condition - turbulence (contributing factor)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

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.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

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 1

- Registration: [N1518V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1518V-2004-04-30), registration cancelled 2004-04-30, S/N 401-0836, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-401
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-401](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-401) (registry code 0390204) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 401-0836
- Airframe hours: 58
- Engines: 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

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N407JH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N407JH-2013-04-10), registration cancelled 2013-04-10, S/N 402-0839, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-402
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402) (registry code 0390205) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 402-0839
- Airframe hours: 82
- Engines: 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

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N1518V; age 39; 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
- Pilot, aircraft N407JH; age 46; 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

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.

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