Ayres S2R-T34 and Ayres S2R-T15 mid-air collision near Bonita, Louisiana, July 14, 2005
On July 14, 2005 at about 9:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Ayres S2R-T34 (N61220) and Ayres S2R-T15 (N3098R), were involved in a mid-air collision near Bonita, Louisiana. No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain an adequate visual lookout, which resulted in a midair collision. A contributing factor was the unsuitable terrain for a forced landing.
The failure of the pilot to maintain adequate visual lookout, 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
- July 14, 2005 · about 9:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bonita, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Ayres S2R-T34
- Registration
- N61220 · registry record · serial T34-195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Ayres S2R-T15
- Registration
- N3098R · no longer on the register · serial T15-022
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Ayres S2R-T34 final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two single-engine agricultural airplanes collided in flight while maneuvering. Both airplanes were of the same make, but different model and were both operated by the same operator. One aircraft, being flown by a 16,000 hour pilot, had just completed an aerial application mission and initiated a high rate of climb on a westerly heading. The second aircraft, which was being flown by a 10,337-hour pilot, was in cruise flight at 500 feet above the ground, returning to a private grass airstrip on a northerly heading. The propeller of the climbing airplane struck the right wing of the airplane in cruise flight. The pilot of the airplane in cruise banked the airplane to the left and initiated a descent to avoid the climbing airplane. The pilot of the airplane in cruise flight landed without further incident at a nearby grass airstrip, while the pilot of the climbing airplane elected to make a forced landing to a cotton field. The airplane was damaged during the forced landing. The airplanes were not in radio contact with each other at the time of the accident. The operator reported that both pilots had been on duty for at least 8 hours at the time of the collision.
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 Ayres S2R-T15 final · quoted from the NTSB record
Two single-engine agricultural airplanes collided in flight while maneuvering. Both airplanes were of the same make, but different model and were both operated by the same operator. One aircraft, being flown by a 16,000 hour pilot, had just completed an aerial application mission and initiated a high rate of climb on a westerly heading. The second aircraft, which was being flown by a 10,337-hour pilot, was in cruise flight at 500 feet above the ground, returning to a private grass airstrip on a northerly heading. The propeller of the climbing airplane struck the right wing of the airplane in cruise flight. The pilot of the airplane in cruise banked the airplane to the left and initiated a descent to avoid the climbing airplane. The pilot of the airplane in cruise flight landed without further incident at a nearby grass airstrip, while the pilot of the climbing airplane elected to make a forced landing to a cotton field. The airplane was damaged during the forced landing. The airplanes were not in radio contact with each other at the time of the accident. The operator reported that both pilots had been on duty for at least 8 hours at the time of the collision.
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 Ayres S2R-T34 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 400 in the last 90 days; 200 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 22,383 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 1, 2005; 103 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6A (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jones LA
- Destination: Jones LA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 12 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 3,800 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from KMLU, 28 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Ayres S2R-T15 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 10,337 hours in all; 513 in this make and model; 113 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 10,240 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,291 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005; 100 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6-34 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bonita LA at 8:00 pm
- Destination: Bonita LA
- Flight plan: none
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.