Air Tractor AT-401 and Air Tractor AT-402 accident near Taft, Texas, May 13, 1992
On May 13, 1992 at about 1:30 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Air Tractor AT-401 (N1518V) and Air Tractor AT-402 (N407JH), were involved in the same accident near Taft, Texas (Hunt Airport). 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 PILOTS' DELAYED COMPENSATION FOR TURBULENCE. A FACTOR WAS THE TURBULENCE.
THE PILOT OF THE OTHER AIRPLANE DELAYED COMPENSATION FOR TURBULENCE. A FACTOR WAS THE TURBULENCE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 13, 1992 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Taft, Texas · Hunt Airport · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Air Tractor AT-401
- Registration
- N1518V · no longer on the register · serial 401-0836
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Air Tractor AT-402
- Registration
- N407JH · registry record · serial 402-0839
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Air Tractor AT-401 final · quoted from the NTSB record
DURING A VFR LANDING FLARE THE WIND WAS REPORTED BY THE PILOTS AS 90 DEGREES TO THE RUNWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 10 KNOTS. ONE PILOT HAD LANDED AND WAS PARKED IN THE LOADING AREA TO THE RIGHT OF THE THRESHOLD. THIS PILOT REPORTED TURBULENCE IN THE VICINITY OF THE LANDING THRESHOLD AS THE WIND PASSED THE HANGAR AREA NEAR THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING FLARE THE SECOND AIRPLANE PILOT DELAYED HIS COMPENSATION FOR THE TURBULENCE. THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE ROTATING PROPELLER OF THE PARKED AIRPLANE. APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET OF THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED FROM THE LANDING AIRPLANE. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER AND CONTINUED TO A NEARBY AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENCE.
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-402 final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT HAD LANDED AND TAXIED TO THE LOADING AREA IN PREPARATION FOR AN AERIAL APPLICATION RUN. AS THE PILOT REMAINED IN THE AIRPLANE WITH THE ENGINE AT IDLE HE OBSERVED THE SECOND AIRPLANE APPROACHING THE THRESHOLD FOR LANDING TO THE EAST. THE PILOTS REPORTED THE WIND FROM THE SOUTH AT 5 TO 10 KNOTS AND TURBULENCE IN THE VICINITY OF THE THRESHOLD AS THE WIND PASSED A HANGAR AREA NEAR THE RUNWAY. DURING THE LANDING FLARE THE AIRPLANE PILOT DELAYED HIS COMPENSATION FOR THE TURBULENCE AND THE RIGHT WING OF THE AIRPLANE STRUCK THE ROTATING PROPELLER OF THE STANDING AIRPLANE. APPROXIMATELY FOUR FEET OF THE RIGHT WING SEPARATED FROM THE LANDING AIRPLANE. THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER AND CONTINUED TO A NEARBY AIRPORT AND LANDED WITHOUT FURTHER INCIDENCE.
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 AT-401 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 3,880 hours in all; 162 in this make and model; 57 in the last 90 days; 39 in the last 30 days; 3,741 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 58 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 27, 1992; 45 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,000 ft by 20 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 5 knots, gusting 10
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,500 ft; clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Air Tractor AT-402 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,045 hours in all; 3,500 in this make and model; 110 in the last 90 days; 35 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 82 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, November 4, 1991; 82 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-15AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Hunt'S Ag-Air, INC.
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,000 ft by 20 ft
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.
Other NTSB records under N1518V the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.