Air Tractor INC AT-802A and Air Tractor INC AT-502B mid-air collision near New Madrid, Missouri, April 19, 2011
On April 19, 2011, 2 aircraft, Air Tractor INC AT-802A (N802KC) and Air Tractor INC AT-502B (N8516K), were involved in a mid-air collision near New Madrid, Missouri (County Memorial Airport). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other airplane, which resulted in a midair collision.
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other airplane, which resulted in a midair collision.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 19, 2011
- Place
- New Madrid, Missouri · County Memorial Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Air Tractor INC AT-802A · all AT-802As on the register
- Registration
- N802KC · registry record · serial 802A-0262
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Air Tractor INC AT-502B · all AT-502Bs on the register
- Registration
- N8516K · registry record · serial 502B-0669
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Air Tractor INC AT-802A final · quoted from the NTSB record
The AT-802A was returning to the airport after an aerial application flight and the AT-502B had just departed the airport and was flying to a field to begin an aerial application flight. The airplanes collided about 2-½ miles north of the airport. The AT-802A was on a south-southwesterly heading and the AT-502B was on a north-northeasterly heading when they collided nearly head-on separating the right main landing gear on the AT-502B and the vertical stabilizer on the AT-802A. The AT-502B returned to the departure airport where it landed uneventfully while the AT-802A descended, and impacted the terrain and a utility pole prior to coming to rest. There was no known communication between the two airplanes that were being operated by the same company.
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 Air Tractor INC AT-502B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The AT-802A was returning to the airport after an aerial application flight and the AT-502B had just departed the airport and was flying to a field to begin an aerial application flight. The airplanes collided about 2-½ miles north of the airport. The AT-802A was on a south-southwesterly heading and the AT-502B was on a north-northeasterly heading when they collided nearly head-on separating the right main landing gear on the AT-502B and the vertical stabilizer on the AT-802A. The AT-502B returned to the departure airport where it landed uneventfully while the AT-802A descended, and impacted the terrain and a utility pole prior to coming to rest. There was no known communication between the two airplanes that were being operated by the same company.
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 INC AT-802A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,534 hours in all; 811 in this make and model; 180 in the last 90 days; 109 in the last 30 days; 6,311 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 31, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-65AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hampton Flying Service LLC
The flight
- Departed from: EIW New Madrid MO
- Destination: EIW New Madrid MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,500 ft; scat at 2,600 ft
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.72 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Air Tractor INC AT-502B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Midair collision during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 5,437 hours in all; 1,070 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days; 5,290 as pilot in command; 70 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,951 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 18, 2011; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 9,400 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hampton Flying Service LLC
The flight
- Departed from: EIW New Madrid MO at 11:25 pm
- Destination: EIW New Madrid MO
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.