# NTSB MKC84LA178: Snow AT400, N501PR, Portland, AR, June 18, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 18, 1984, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC)
- Place: Portland, AR
- Coordinates: 33.230751, -91.510353 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2308&lon=-91.5104&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 33713
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MKC84LA178
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/33713/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MKC84LA178

## Sequence of events

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

- Midair collision, landing
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)
- Midair collision, landing
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot of other aircraft (cause)

## Analysis (aircraft 2)

BOTH ACFT WERE ABOUT TO TOUCH DOWN. N501PR WAS ABOVE N501JS. THE PILOT OF N501PR STATED THAT JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN THE COLLISION OCCURRED AND RESULTED IN SEVERING OF THE TAIL SECTION OF N501PR. THE PILOT OF 501JS STATED N501PR FLARED OUT TO LAND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE COULD NOT AVOID THE COLLISION. THERE WAS NO RADIO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO ACFT.

## Analysis (aircraft 1)

BOTH ACFT WERE ABOUT TO TOUCHDOWN. N501PR WAS ABOVE N501JS. THE PILOT OF N501PR STATED THAT JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN THE COLLISION OCCURRED AND RESULTED IN SEVERING OF THE TAIL SECTION OF N501PR. THE PILOT OF N501JS STATED THAT N501PR FLARED OUT TO LAND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE COULD NOT AVOID THE COLLISION. THERE WAS NO RADIO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO ACFT.

## Aircraft 1

- Registration: N501PR (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: SNOW AT400
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AT400-0485
- Airframe hours: 637
- Engines: P&W PT6-15AG 715 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Reed Flying Service, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, December 13, 1983, 170 hours before
- Departed: PORTLAND, AR
- Airport: Reed, runway 18, 2,200 ×  ft, asphalt

## Aircraft 2

- Registration: [N501JS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N501JS-1997-03-28), registration cancelled 1997-03-28, S/N AT4000485 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SNOW AT400
- Registry model: [Air Tractor AT-400](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-tractor-at-400) (registry code 0390202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: AT400-0488
- Airframe hours: 700
- Engines: P&W PT6-15AG 715 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Reed Flying Service,Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 2, 1983, 170 hours before
- Departed: PORTLAND, AR
- Airport: Reed, runway 18, 2,200 ×  ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot, aircraft N501PR; age 43; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 14,487 total, 637 in this make and model, 14,487 as pilot in command, 170 in the last 90 days
- Pilot, aircraft N501JS; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; flight hours: 18,721 total, 700 in this make and model, 18,021 as pilot in command, 170 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: ELD, 75 nm away

## 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 19840618027312A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840618027312A), Jun 18, 1984: Airtrc AT400, Portland, AR, Substantial damage. Landed just ahead of company N501JS cut tail off 501PR. Neither saw other.
- [Accident 19840618027311A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19840618027311A), Jun 18, 1984: Airtrc AT400, Portland, AR, Substantial damage. Chopped the tail off another ag aircraft N501PR while flaring for landing. N501PR had landed from a higher pattern.

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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