- Date
- June 7, 2011, 05:45 local (12:45 UTC)
- Place
- Odessa, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Defining events
- Taxi-to runway: Ground collisionStanding-engine(s) operating: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 19, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Western Pacific Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA reports
- 20110607011211A20110607011331A
- Case key
- 79327
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's failure to maintain clearance from the other aircraft.
The pilot of the Air Tractor's failure to maintain clearance from the Aero Commander.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
N6072X · Air Tractor AT-502B
N3662X · Aero Commander S2R
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
N6072X · Air Tractor AT-502B
N3662X · Aero Commander S2R
Analysis
The pilot of the Air Tractor airplane reported that after loading the airplane's chemical tanks he began taxing for departure. The pilot said he was watching his left wing to clear obstacles, but sun glare made looking to the right difficult. The pilot said he did not see an Aero Commander airplane that was stopped on the taxiway idling, waiting to come in to the loading area. The propeller of the Air Tractor struck the right wing of the Aero Commander, substantially damaging its right wing. The pilots of each airplane reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframes and engines of their respective aircraft that would have precluded normal flight.
The pilot of the Air Tractor airplane reported that after loading the airplane's chemical tanks he began taxiing for departure. The pilot said he was watching his left wing to clear obstacles, but sun glare made looking to the right difficult. The pilot said he did not see an Aero Commander airplane that was stopped on the taxiway, waiting to enter the loading area. The propeller of the Air Tractor struck the right wing of the Aero Commander, substantially damaging its right wing. The pilots of each airplane reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframes and engines of their respective aircraft that would have precluded normal flight.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that he was parked at the chemical loading dock, which housed the agricultural spray he was using for his dusting. There was a chemical tank and another airplane parked in front of him. After loading his tanks he proceeded to increase the throttle and turn to the right while watching his left wing to clear the obstacles. The Air Tractor pilot commented that he was not watching his right wing due to the sun. At that time, the pilot of the Aero Commander was stopped on the taxiway and idling, waiting to proceed towards the loading dock. The Aero Commander pilot reported seeing an airplane coming towards him, but assumed the airplane would turn in front of him towards the runway. When the Aero Commander pilot noticed the other airplane was on a collision course with his airplane, he applied throttle to gain the attention of the other pilot, but was unsuccessful. The propeller of the Air Tractor struck the right wing of the Aero Commander, substantially damaging its right wing. The pilots reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframes and engines of their respective aircraft that would have precluded normal flight.
The pilot reported that he was parked at the chemical loading dock, which housed the agricultural spray he was using for his dusting. There was a chemical tank and another airplane parked in front of him. After loading his tanks he proceeded to increase the throttle and turn to the right while watching his left wing to clear the obstacles. The Air Tractor pilot commented that he was not watching his right wing due to the sun. At that time, the pilot of the Aero Commander was stopped on the taxiway and idling, waiting to proceed towards the loading dock. The Aero Commander pilot reported seeing an airplane coming towards him, but assumed the airplane would turn in front of him towards the runway. When the Aero Commander pilot noticed the other airplane was on a collision course with his airplane, he applied throttle to gain the attention of the other pilot, but was unsuccessful. The propeller of the Air Tractor struck the right wing of the Aero Commander, substantially damaging its right wing. The pilots reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframes and engines of their respective aircraft that would have precluded normal flight.
Aircraft · 2
- Registration
- N6072X
- Reported as
- Air Tractor AT-502B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 502B0278
- Airframe hours
- 6,951
- Engine
- P&W PT6A SERIES, 500 horsepower, turbo prop
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Wilbur-Ellis Air LLC
- Registered owner
- Wilbur-Ellis Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 4, 2011 · 118 hours before
- Departed
- 43D · Odessa, WA
- Destination
- 43D · Odessa, WA
- Airport
- 43D · Odessa Municipal Airport
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
- N3662X
- Reported as
- Aero Commander S2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1890R
- Airframe hours
- 9,924
- Engine
- P&W R1340 SERIES, 1,200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Operator
- Wilbur-Ellis Air LLC
- Registered owner
- Wilbur-Ellis Air LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · April 18, 2011 · 125 hours before
- Departed
- 43D · Odessa, WA
- Destination
- 43D · Odessa, WA
- Flight plan
- Unknown
- Airport
- 43D · Odessa Municipal Airport
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 N6072X
- Age
- 37
- Injuries
- None
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2
- Last flight review
- February 2, 2010
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 4,200 total · 130 in this make and model · 3,800 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Pilot, aircraft N3662X
- Age
- 31
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- January 13, 2010
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 3,500 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 3,400 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 100 in the last 30 days · 8 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- KMWH, 20 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 5, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 2
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.