Rockwell S-2R and Air Tractor AT-400 mid-air collision near Jones, Louisiana, August 23, 1982
On August 23, 1982 at about 8:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Rockwell S-2R (N8474V) and Air Tractor AT-400 (N2342Z), were involved in a mid-air collision near Jones, Louisiana. 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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
- August 23, 1982 · about 8:15 pm local time
- Place
- Jones, Louisiana
- Type
- Accident · mid-air collision
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Rockwell S-2R
- Registration
- N8474V · no longer on the register · serial 2364R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Air Tractor AT-400
- Registration
- N2342Z · no longer on the register · serial 400-0384
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Rockwell S-2R final · quoted from the NTSB record
ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S-2R, N8474V, AND ANOTHER AIRCRAFT, AN AIR TRACTOR AT-400, N2342Z, COLLIDE WHILE BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE INVOLVED IN SPRAYING OPERATIONS. THE S-2R PILOT HAD FINISHED SPRAYING A FIELD WITH NORTH AND SOUTH SWATH RUNS, EXCEPT FOR CLEAN-UP SWATHS. AT THE SOUTH END OF THE FIELD, HE MADE A TRIM PASS FROM WEST TO EAST, THEN PULLED UP OVER TREES IN A RIGHT CLIMBING TURN. DURING THE RIGHT CLIMBING TURN ON A SOUTHEAST HEADING, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE AT-400 THAT WAS IN A RIGHT DESCENDING TURN IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION. THE AT-400 PILOT WAS SPRAYING AN ADJACENT FIELD THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY TREES. HE HAD JUST COMPLETED A SWATH RUN TO THE SOUTH, AND WAS IN THE LAST PART OF A PROCEDURE TURN BACK TO THE NORTH, WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED.
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 AT-400 final · quoted from the NTSB record
AIR TRACTOR AT-400, N2342Z, AND ANOTHER AIRCRAFT, A ROCKWELL INTERNATIONAL S-2R, N8474V, COLLIDED WHILE BOTH AIRCRAFT WERE INVOLVED IN SPRAYING OPERATONS. THE AT-400 PILOT WAS SPRAYING A FIELD THAT WAS SURROUNDED BY TREES. HE HAD JUST COMPLETED A SWATH RUN TO THE SOUTH WHERE HE BEGAN A PROCEDURE TURN BACK TO THE NORTH. HE BEGAN WITH A LEFT CLIMBING TURN, THEN REVERSED IN A RIGHT DESCENDING TURN. WHILE TURNING THROUGH A NORTHWESTERLY HEADING, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH THE S-2R THAT WAS IN A RIGHT CLIMBING TURN, PASSING THROUGH A SOUTHEASTERLY HEADING. THE S-2R PILOT HAD FINISHED HIS NORTH AND SOUTH SWATH RUNS IN AN ADJACENT FIELD AND WAS MAKING A TRIM PASS FROM WEST TO EAST. HE WAS PULLING UP OVER TREES IN A RIGHT TURN WHEN THE COLLISION OCCURRED.
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 Rockwell S-2R from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 8,840 hours in all; 836 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 8,798 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire in flight and on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 208°F (98°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Air Tractor AT-400 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,202 hours in all; 417 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 3,202 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P & W PT6-A15-AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Jones LA at 2:25 pm
- Destination: Jones LA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
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.