# NTSB LAX02LA034: Air Tractor AT-401B, N9186J, Las Vegas, NV, November 30, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 30, 2001, 15:46 local (23:46 UTC) - Place: Las Vegas, NV - Coordinates: 36.066665, -115.153892 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0667&lon=-115.1539&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 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53852 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA034 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53852/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA034 ## Probable cause (aircraft 2) the failure of the AT-401 pilot to maintain clearance with the AT-402 airplane during landing. Contributing factors were the unreliable communication radio in the AT-401, the AT-401 pilot's continued flight with known communication radio problems, and the glare of the sun. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), landing - flare/touchdown - comm/nav equipment - unreliable (contributing factor) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - continued, pilot in command (contributing factor) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor) - Collision between aircraft (other than midair), landing - roll - clearance - not maintained, pilot of other aircraft (cause) ## Analysis (aircraft 2) Three airplanes, an AT-401, an AT-402 and an AT-502 were making a cross-country formation flight. Originally, the AT-401 was the lead airplane, the AT-402 was in the number 2 position, and the AT-502 was the trailing airplane. The AT-401 experienced radio communication problems during the flight. When the AT-401 pilot was unable to establish radio communications with air traffic control at the destination airport, he turned the lead over to the AT-502. The AT-401 pilot thought he was to transition to the number 2 position with the AT-402 taking the trail position. The pilot of the AT-402 thought the AT-401 was to take the trail position after the AT-502 assumed the lead, and he was to remain the number 2 airplane in the formation/landing sequence. According to the AT-401 pilot, the transition from base leg to final approach brought his airplane through the glare of the setting sun, and he concentrated on maintaining his relative position to the lead airplane. He landed behind the AT-502 and taxied off the runway. The AT-402 pilot indicated he landed behind the AT-502, and during the roll out, felt his airplane shudder as the AT-401 impacted his vertical stabilizer/rudder, passed over his airplane and landed on the runway ahead of him. ## Factual narrative (aircraft 2) On November 30, 2001, at 1546 Pacific standard time, an Air Tractor AT-401B, N9186J, landed on top of an Air Tractor AT-402A, N139LA, on runway 19R at the McCarren International Airport, Las Vegas, Nevada. The AT-402A sustained substantial damage to the rudder, while the AT-401B sustained minor damage. Neither the commercial pilot onboard the AT-401B, or the airline transport pilot onboard the AT-402A were injured. The AT-401B was registered to Southeastern Aerial Corp Service Inc., Fort Pierce, Florida, and the AT-402A was registered to Air Tractor Inc., Olney, Texas. Air Tractor operated both airplanes under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The two airplanes were part of a flight of three airplanes that departed the Olney Municipal Airport, Olney, approximately 0845 en route to Las Vegas, where the airplanes were to be displayed at the National Agricultural Aviation Association's annual convention. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a flight plan had not been filed for the cross-country flight. For purposes of this report, the three airplanes will be referred to as the AT-401, AT-402, and AT-502. According to the AT-401 pilot, the AT-401 was equipped with a "ferry radio package that contained a single com[munication] radio and transponder with encoder." The pilot tested the radio with a radio check over the unicom frequency located at the departure airport. The AT-401 pilot indicated the response to his radio check was, "loud and clear." The AT-401 pilot experienced a gradual loss of radio communication capability when the flight neared Albuquerque, New Mexico (ABQ). The ABQ approach controller indicated the airplane's communications were, "weak, but readable." The AT-401 pilot could hear the communications from the AT-502 pilot; however, he could not hear any communications from AT-402 pilot. The AT-401 pilot indicated that communications were possible (on a limited basis) when the airplanes were aligned adjacent to each other; however, no communications were possible if the airplanes were in trail. As the flight of three neared its destination, with the AT-401 in lead, the AT-402 next, and the AT-502 in the trailing position, plans were made to enter Las Vegas' class C airspace. It was determined that if the AT-401 could not establish communications with Las Vegas air traffic control, the AT-502 would take the lead, establish communications for the three airplanes, and take the flight to the runway. The AT-401 could not establish communications with Las Vegas approach control and the lead was transferred to the AT-502. The AT-401 then took up the number 2 position echelon off the AT-502 right wing. The AT-401 pilot changed radio frequencies, along with the AT-502. The AT-502 pilot relayed to the other pilots the headings assigned by air traffic control. The AT-401 pilot indicated that as they approached the airport, the sun was low on the horizon and "now a factor in visibility." Approach control had cleared the flight of three to make a left base approach to runway 19R. The AT-401 pilot made visual contact with the number 3 airplane (AT-402), and determined he was "roughly in trail with the lead aircraft, several hundred yards behind." As as the AT-401 turned from base leg to final, the AT-401's heading passed through the glare of the setting sun. The AT-401 pilot maintained his position relative to the lead aircraft (AT-502). He indicated he followed the lead aircraft onto final, landed behind it, and taxied off the active runway. According to the AT-402 pilot, he was originally in the number 2 position behind the AT-401; however, when the AT-401 experienced radio communication problems, a plan was made to deal with the situation. The AT-402 pilot indicated that plan "A" would be: if the AT-401 pilot obtained airspace clearance, then the landing order would be the AT-401, followed by the AT-402, and then the AT-502. However, as the radio communications degraded on the AT-401, the plan was changed to plan "B," which had the AT-502 obtain the clearance and land, followed again by the AT-402, then the AT-401. The AT-402 remained in the number 2 position in both plans. The AT-402 pilot indicated he landed number 2 behind the AT-502, and was rolling out with all wheels firmly on the ground, when he felt the aircraft shudder. He observed both main wheels of the AT-401 "come past the cockpit, flying exactly over the top of me." The AT-401 was flying straight and level and landed ahead of the AT-402. The AT-402 pilot scanned his instrument panel, powered up, taxied clear of the runway, and parked the airplane. The pilot of the AT-401 reported he had 2 years (and approximately 200 hours) of formation flying experience in T-6 trainers with the Confederate Air Force. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), under the section titled "Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented," the AT-401 pilot listed "formal formation training and qualification check for all pilots in group. Proper installation of ferry radio equipment." ## Aircraft 1 - Registration: [N9186J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9186J), registered now, S/N 401-0912, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-401B - 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 0912 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney 1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Southeastern Aerial Corp Service Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 10, 2001, 20 hours before - Departed: ONY, Olney, TX - Destination: LAS, Las Vegas, NV - Airport: LAS, McCarran International, runway 19R, 9,775 × 150 ft, concrete ## Aircraft 2 - Registration: [N139LA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N139LA-2008-01-11), registration cancelled 2008-01-11, S/N 402A-1139, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Air Tractor AT-402A - Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-402A](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-402a) (registry code 0390206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 402A-1 - Airframe hours: 9.8 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PTGA-11AG 550 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Air Tractor, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: ONY, Olney, TX - Destination: LAS, Las Vegas, NV - Airport: LAS, McCarran International, runway 19R, 9,770 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot, aircraft N9186J; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 12,000 total, 400 in this make and model - Pilot, aircraft N139LA; age 39; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review June 14, 2001; seat: center; flight hours: 3,713 total, 20 in this make and model, 3,379 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: LAS ## 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 20011130036431A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011130036431A), Nov 30, 2001: Airtrc AT401, Las Vegas, NV, No damage. (-23) Aircraft was one in a flight of three. PIC of this aircraft overtook and struck another aircraft in his flight during the landing phase and then touched… - [Accident 20011130036432A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011130036432A), Nov 30, 2001: Airtrc AT402A, Las Vegas, NV, No damage. (-23) Aircraft rudder and canopy struck from behind by another aircraft in the same flight that overtook this aircraft during landing phase into klas. ## Other investigations on N9186J (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA95LA180](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA95LA180), Jul 10, 1995: Air Tractor AT-401 (N9186J), Clewiston, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: IMPROPER WEATHER EVALUATION BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TAKEOFF WITH A QUARTERING TAILWIND ASSOCIATED WITH A NEARBY THUNDERSTORM AND FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL… 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.