Air Tractor AT-401B and Air Tractor AT-402A accident near Las Vegas, Nevada, November 30, 2001
On November 30, 2001 at about 11:46 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Air Tractor AT-401B (N9186J) and Air Tractor AT-402A (N139LA), were involved in the same accident near Las Vegas, Nevada (Mccarran International 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 failure of the AT-401 pilot to maintain clearance with the AT-402 airplane during landing. Contributing factors were the unreliable communication radio in the AT-401, the AT-401 pilot's continued flight with known communication radio problems, and the glare of the sun.
the failure of the AT-401 pilot to maintain clearance with the AT-402 airplane during landing. Contributing factors were the unreliable communication radio in the AT-401, the AT-401 pilot's continued flight with known communication radio problems, and the glare of the sun.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 30, 2001 · about 11:46 pm local time
- Place
- Las Vegas, Nevada · Mccarran International · 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-401B
- Registration
- N9186J · registry record · serial 401 0912
- Damage
- Not recorded
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Air Tractor AT-402A
- Registration
- N139LA · no longer on the register · serial 402A-1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the Air Tractor AT-401B final · quoted from the NTSB record
Three airplanes, an AT-401, an AT-402 and an AT-502 were making a cross-country formation flight. Originally, the AT-401 was the lead airplane, the AT-402 was in the number 2 position, and the AT-502 was the trailing airplane. The AT-401 experienced radio communication problems during the flight. When the AT-401 pilot was unable to establish radio communications with air traffic control at the destination airport, he turned the lead over to the AT-502. The AT-401 pilot thought he was to transition to the number 2 position with the AT-402 taking the trail position. The pilot of the AT-402 thought the AT-401 was to take the trail position after the AT-502 assumed the lead, and he was to remain the number 2 airplane in the formation/landing sequence. According to the AT-401 pilot, the transition from base leg to final approach brought his airplane through the glare of the setting sun, and he concentrated on maintaining his relative position to the lead airplane. He landed behind the AT-502 and taxied off the runway. The AT-402 pilot indicated he landed behind the AT-502, and during the roll out, felt his airplane shudder as the AT-401 impacted his vertical stabilizer/rudder, passed over his airplane and landed on the runway ahead of him.
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-402A final · quoted from the NTSB record
Three airplanes, an AT-401, an AT-402 and an AT-502 were making a cross-country formation flight. Originally, the AT-401 was the lead airplane, the AT-402 was in the number 2 position, and the AT-502 was the trailing airplane. The AT-401 experienced radio communication problems during the flight. When the AT-401 pilot was unable to establish radio communications with air traffic control at the destination airport, he turned the lead over to the AT-502. The AT-401 pilot thought he was to transition to the number 2 position with the AT-402 taking the trail position. The pilot of the AT-402 thought the AT-401 was to take the trail position after the AT-502 assumed the lead, and he was to remain the number 2 airplane in the formation/landing sequence. According to the AT-401 pilot, the transition from base leg to final approach brought his airplane through the glare of the setting sun, and he concentrated on maintaining his relative position to the lead airplane. He landed behind the AT-502 and taxied off the runway. The AT-402 pilot indicated he landed behind the AT-502, and during the roll out, felt his airplane shudder as the AT-401 impacted his vertical stabilizer/rudder, passed over his airplane and landed on the runway ahead of him.
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-401B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 400 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 10, 2001; 20 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney 1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ONY Olney TX at 2:30 pm
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19R, 9,775 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 080° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 9,000 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 11:45 pm from LAS
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Air Tractor AT-402A from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,713 hours in all; 20 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 3,379 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: June 14, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 7,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PTGA-11AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ONY Olney TX at 2:45 pm
- Destination: LAS Las Vegas NV
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19R, 9,770 ft by 150 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 N9186J 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.