Snow AT400 and Snow AT400 mid-air collision near Portland, Arkansas, June 18, 1984
On June 18, 1984 at about 3:15 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Snow AT400 (N501PR) and Snow AT400 (N501JS), were involved in a mid-air collision near Portland, Arkansas (Reed 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 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
- June 18, 1984 · about 3:15 pm local time
- Place
- Portland, Arkansas · Reed · 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
- Snow AT400
- Registration
- N501PR · registry record · serial AT400-0485
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Snow AT400
- Registration
- N501JS · registry record · serial AT400-0488
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Snow AT400 final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH ACFT WERE ABOUT TO TOUCHDOWN. N501PR WAS ABOVE N501JS. THE PILOT OF N501PR STATED THAT JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN THE COLLISION OCCURRED AND RESULTED IN SEVERING OF THE TAIL SECTION OF N501PR. THE PILOT OF N501JS STATED THAT N501PR FLARED OUT TO LAND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE COULD NOT AVOID THE COLLISION. THERE WAS NO RADIO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO ACFT.
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 Snow AT400 final · quoted from the NTSB record
BOTH ACFT WERE ABOUT TO TOUCH DOWN. N501PR WAS ABOVE N501JS. THE PILOT OF N501PR STATED THAT JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN THE COLLISION OCCURRED AND RESULTED IN SEVERING OF THE TAIL SECTION OF N501PR. THE PILOT OF 501JS STATED N501PR FLARED OUT TO LAND DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF HIM AND HE COULD NOT AVOID THE COLLISION. THERE WAS NO RADIO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE TWO ACFT.
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 Snow AT400 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 14,487 hours in all; 637 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 14,487 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 637 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 13, 1983; 170 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-15AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Portland AR at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from ELD, 75 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Snow AT400 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 18,721 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 170 in the last 90 days; 18,021 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 700 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 2, 1983; 170 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,600 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6-15AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Reed Flying Service,Inc.
The flight
- Departed from: Portland AR at 2:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 2,200 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.
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.