N389LAAir Tractor AT-802A · 2010

On May 25, 2012, at 0645 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-802A, N389LA, sustained substantial damage when a Thrush S2RHG-T65, N40475, collided with it while it was on a taxiway preparing to depart from a private airstrip near Alicia, Arkansas. The Thrush was in its landing roll when it lost directional control and struck the Air Tractor. Neither pilot was injured. The Air Tractor and Thrush were owned and operated by J and R Flying Service LLC under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 for agricultural operations. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plans were filed. The Thrush departed the airstrip at 0630 and was returning to land when it impacted the Air Tractor.

The pilot of the Thrush reported that the airplane was traveling too fast during touchdown so he attempted a go-around. He reported that the engine would not “spool back up in time” to make a successful go-around, so he decided to abort the go-around. He applied both brakes and put the propeller into reverse, however, the airplane started to veer off the left side of the runway. He applied right rudder and right brake to regain directional control but was unsuccessful. The Thrush hit the Air Tractor that was about 50 to 75 feet off the runway. The propeller of the Thrush hit the left wing of the Air Tractor, and the Air Tractor’s propeller hit the Thrush’s left wing. The pilot reported that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction or system failure of the Thrush.