Air Tractor INC AT-502B and Aero Commander S2R accident near Odessa, Washington, June 7, 2011
On June 7, 2011 at about 12:45 pm local time, 2 aircraft, Air Tractor INC AT-502B (N6072X) and Aero Commander S2R (N3662X), were involved in the same accident near Odessa, Washington (Odessa Municipal 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 pilot of the Air Tractor's failure to maintain clearance from the Aero Commander.
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the other aircraft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 7, 2011 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Odessa, Washington · Odessa Municipal 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 INC AT-502B · all AT-502Bs on the register
- Registration
- N6072X · registry record · serial 502B0278
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
- Aircraft 2
- Aero Commander S2R · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N3662X · registry record · serial 1890R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative for the Air Tractor INC AT-502B final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Air Tractor airplane reported that after loading the airplane's chemical tanks he began taxiing for departure. The pilot said he was watching his left wing to clear obstacles, but sun glare made looking to the right difficult. The pilot said he did not see an Aero Commander airplane that was stopped on the taxiway, waiting to enter the loading area. The propeller of the Air Tractor struck the right wing of the Aero Commander, substantially damaging its right wing. The pilots of each airplane reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframes and engines of their respective aircraft that would have precluded normal flight.
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 Aero Commander S2R final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the Air Tractor airplane reported that after loading the airplane's chemical tanks he began taxing for departure. The pilot said he was watching his left wing to clear obstacles, but sun glare made looking to the right difficult. The pilot said he did not see an Aero Commander airplane that was stopped on the taxiway idling, waiting to come in to the loading area. The propeller of the Air Tractor struck the right wing of the Aero Commander, substantially damaging its right wing. The pilots of each airplane reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframes and engines of their respective aircraft that would have precluded normal flight.
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 INC AT-502B from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Light condition › Bright light › Effect on personnel
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Aircraft › Response/compensation
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 4,200 hours in all; 130 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 3,800 as pilot in command; 500 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 2, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6,951 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 4, 2011; 118 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A SERIES (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wilbur-Ellis Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 43D Odessa WA
- Destination: 43D Odessa WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 1:52 pm from KMWH, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
The factual record for the Aero Commander S2R from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during standing (engine(s) operating) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot of other aircraft
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,500 hours in all; 2,000 in this make and model; 250 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 3,400 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 13, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,924 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 18, 2011; 125 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 SERIES (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Wilbur-Ellis Air LLC
The flight
- Departed from: 43D Odessa WA
- Destination: 43D Odessa WA
- Flight plan: not recorded
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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 N6072X 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.