WPR11CA252

NTSB accident investigation · Air Tractor AT-502B · Odessa, WA · June 7, 2011

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
June 7, 2011, 05:45 local (12:45 UTC)
Place
Odessa, WA
Injuries
2 uninjured
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N6072XAir Tractor AT-502BN3662XAero Commander S2R
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
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

Light condition: bright lightEnvironmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on personnelAir Tractor AT-502B: 2 casesAll aircraft: 28 cases
Object/animal/substance: aircraftEnvironmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensationAir Tractor AT-502B: 1 caseAll aircraft: 116 casesProbable cause

N3662X · Aero Commander S2R

Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilancePersonnel issues › Psychological · Pilot of other aircraftAero Commander S2R: 1 caseAll aircraft: 330 casesProbable cause

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.