Air Tractor INC AT-502B and Air Tractor INC AT-802A mid-air collision near Bonita, Louisiana, July 11, 2024
On July 11, 2024 at about 7:07 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Air Tractor INC AT-502B (N6177J) and Air Tractor INC AT-802A (N795LA), were involved in a mid-air collision near Bonita, Louisiana. 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other airplane while at low altitude enroute to their aerial application flights.
The failure of both pilots to see and avoid the other airplane while at low altitude enroute to their aerial application flights.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 11, 2024 · about 7:07 pm local time
- Place
- Bonita, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Air Tractor INC AT-502B, built 1995 · all AT-502Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6177J · registry record · serial 502B-0327
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Air Tractor INC AT-802A, built 2023 · all AT-802As on the register
- Registration
- N795LA · registry record · serial 802A-1007
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Air Tractor INC AT-502B final · quoted from the NTSB record
Both agricultural airplanes were en route to their respective agricultural aerial application locations when they collided about 175 ft above ground level (agl). After the collision, N6177J descended into the terrain and was destroyed and N795LA sustained minor damage and landed at the departure airstrip. According to the pilot of N795LA, he departed the private airstrip and observed N6177J about 100 ft to his left at the same altitude. He pulled back on the control stick to avoid N6177J. Shortly after he felt an impact and heard a bang, but he was able to control the airplane after the collision. The two pilots were not communicating by radio. The investigation revealed that both pilots were in positions to see the other airplane in time to avoid a collision. An examination of both airplanes revealed no evidence of any preexisting malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. The toxicology results for the pilot of N6177J indicated that he had used the medications oxybutynin and diphenhydramine, both of which have a potential to cause sedation and cognitive and psychomotor slowing. Although the pilot may have been experiencing impairing effects of these medications at the time of the accident, no more specific conclusions about his impairment could be drawn. Additionally, his autopsy report indicated atherosclerotic disease, which is associated with some increased risk of experiencing a sudden impairing or incapacitating cardiovascular event, such as arrhythmia, heart attack, or stroke. There was no autopsy evidence that such an event occurred; however, such an event does not leave reliable autopsy evidence if it occurs immediately before death.
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-802A final · quoted from the NTSB record
Both agricultural airplanes were en route to their respective agricultural aerial application locations when they collided about 175 ft above ground level (agl). After the collision, N6177J descended into the terrain and was destroyed and N795LA sustained minor damage and landed at the departure airstrip. According to the pilot of N795LA, he departed the private airstrip and observed N6177J about 100 ft to his left at the same altitude. He pulled back on the control stick to avoid N6177J. Shortly after he felt an impact and heard a bang, but he was able to control the airplane after the collision. The two pilots were not communicating by radio. The investigation revealed that both pilots were in positions to see the other airplane in time to avoid a collision. An examination of both airplanes revealed no evidence of any preexisting malfunctions or failures that would have prevented normal operation. The toxicology results for the pilot of N6177J indicated that he had used the medications oxybutynin and diphenhydramine, both of which have a potential to cause sedation and cognitive and psychomotor slowing. Although the pilot may have been experiencing impairing effects of these medications at the time of the accident, no more specific conclusions about his impairment could be drawn. Additionally, his autopsy report indicated atherosclerotic disease, which is associated with some increased risk of experiencing a sudden impairing or incapacitating cardiovascular event, such as arrhythmia, heart attack, or stroke. There was no autopsy evidence that such an event occurred; however, such an event does not leave reliable autopsy evidence if it occurs immediately before death.
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-502B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
- Midair collision during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 32,100 hours in all
- Last flight review: February 27, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,480.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 8,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Mcginty Flying Service LLC
The flight
- Departed from: Jones LA at 7:05 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 2:15 pm from KBQP, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBQP 111915Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 32/18 A3006 RMK AO2 T03220182
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
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)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 35,700 hours in all
- Last flight review: May 24, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,247.4 hours
- Maximum gross weight: 16,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-65AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Arklaflyers, Inc
The flight
- Departed from: Bonita LA at 7:05 pm
- 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
15 documents, released by the NTSB on October 22, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
Other NTSB records under N6177J the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 CEN24FA260.