Air Tractor 502B and Cessna 188B mid-air collision near Anguilla, Mississippi, June 2, 2001
On June 2, 2001 at about 1:00 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Air Tractor 502B (N257LA) and Cessna 188B (N731KG), were involved in a mid-air collision near Anguilla, Mississippi (Angilla Flying Service (Pvt) airport). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Failure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout, resulting in an in-flight collision. The air tractor pilot operated the positioning flight at an altitude below 500 feet agl. Valium was detected in the toxicological examination of the Air Tractor pilot.
Failure of both pilots to maintain visual lookout, resulting in an in-flight collision. A factor was sun glare.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2001 · about 1:00 pm local time
- Place
- Anguilla, Mississippi · Angilla Flying Service (Pvt) · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Air Tractor 502B
- Registration
- N257LA · registry record · serial 502B-0257
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Cessna 188B · all 188Bs on the register
- Registration
- N731KG · no longer on the register · serial 18802949T
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Air Tractor 502B final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two agricultural airplanes, an Air Tractor 502B and a Cessna 188, collided in flight at low altitude over a field. The Cessna was working a field, and the Air Tractor was ferrying between aerial application sites when the collision occurred. Examination of both wreckage revealed that the right wing of the Cessna collided with the right elevator of the air tractor. The collision altitude was not determined. The right -a-way rule states that the airplane to the right has the right-a-way. Valium was also detected in tissue samples from the Air tractor pilot. The sun position limited the visibility of the Cessna pilot.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The NTSB's narrative for the Cessna 188B final · quoted from the NTSB record
See narrative ATL01LA063A.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record for the Air Tractor 502B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,700 hours in all; 200 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 7, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,178 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 8, 2001; 188.7 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,700 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W P76A-34AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Rolling Fork MS at 12:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 12:53 pm from KGWO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Cessna 188B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 25,000 hours in all; 18,000 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,300 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 18, 2000
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-720 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Rolling Fork MS at 12:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL01LA063.