The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB CEN26LA118 · Preliminary: the investigation is not finished

Air Tractor AT-502A and Air Tractor AT-502B mid-air collision near Sulphur, Louisiana, February 12, 2026

On February 12, 2026 at about 12:19 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Air Tractor AT-502A (N254LA) and Air Tractor AT-502B (N598LA), were involved in a mid-air collision near Sulphur, Louisiana (Southland Field Airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
February 12, 2026 · about 12:19 pm local time
Place
Sulphur, Louisiana · Southland Field Airport · map
Type
Accident · mid-air collision
Injuries
No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
Weather
not recorded
Aircraft 1
Air Tractor AT-502A, built 2016
Registration
N254LA · registry record · serial 502A-3054
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
Aircraft 2
Air Tractor AT-502B, built 2006
Registration
N598LA · registry record · serial 502B-2598
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)

The factual record for the Air Tractor AT-502A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Midair collision during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event

The aircraft

  • Landing gear: fixed

The flight

  • Departed from: UXL Sulphur LA
  • Destination: UXL Sulphur LA
  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 33, 5,001 ft by 75 ft

Weather at the time

  • Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

The factual record for the Air Tractor AT-502B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English

What happened, in order

  1. Midair collision during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event

The aircraft

  • Landing gear: fixed

The flight

  • Departed from: UXL Sulphur LA
  • Destination: UXL Sulphur LA
  • Flight plan: none

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1

Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report

The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.

Other NTSB records under N254LA the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time

2018-07-26GAA18CA447 · accident near Iowa, LA · substantial damage · no injuries

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.