Midair Collision Between Cessna T-37B and Air Tractor AT-502B in Cruise Flight (66-8003)

Q: What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 18 Jan 2005 involved a Cessna T-37B, registration 66-8003, operated by 90TH Flying Training Squadron, Usaf, at Hollister, OK.

On January 18, 2005, a Cessna T-37B (registration 66-8003) operated by 90TH Flying Training Squadron, Usaf was involved in an aviation accident near Hollister, OK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilots of the T-37B and AT-502B the failed to maintain adequate visual lookout and did not maintain clearance from the other aircraft. Contributing factors included the lack of a transponder and radios on the AT-502B and the reduced visibility due to haze. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data API Editorial standards

A U.S. Air Force Cessna T-37B and an Air Tractor AT-502B were destroyed in a midair collision during cruise flight. The T-37B was returning from a training mission; the AT-502B, lacking radios and transponder, was being ferried to South Dakota.

Aircraft and Flight Details

A U.S. Air Force twin-jet military trainer, a Cessna T-37B, and a single-engine agricultural aircraft, an Air Tractor AT-502B, were destroyed following a midair collision during cruise flight. The training jet was returning to its home military base after a training flight. The AT-502B was a factory new aircraft being ferried to South Dakota and was not equipped with radios or a transponder.

Collision Sequence

The T-37B had climbed under visual flight rules (VFR) to 5,500 feet mean sea level (msl) and was then instructed to descend to 5,000 feet msl on a magnetic heading of 100 degrees. After approximately one minute or less of level flight at 5,000 feet msl, the T-37B impacted the agricultural aircraft, which was flying on a heading of about 355 to 005 degrees magnetic. The magnetic heading and altitudes flown by the AT-502B pilot are unknown due to the lack of radar data.

Radar and Communications

The radar approach control facility providing radar services to the T-37B did not have radar recording capability, so no radar track data were available for analysis. Air traffic controllers working the T-37B reported seeing the T-37B at 5,000 feet on their radar displays prior to the collision. They did not observe primary radar returns from the AT-502B.

Environmental Conditions

The T-37B instructor pilot reported an overcast ceiling around 6,000 to 6,500 feet msl and visibility at 5,500 feet msl of about 3 miles due to haze.

Airspace Designation

The airspace at the accident location is designated as Class E airspace. According to the Aeronautical Information Manual, Class E airspace is generally controlled airspace that is not Class A, B, or D. No specific pilot certification or specific aircraft equipment is required to fly in Class E airspace, and no separation services are provided to VFR aircraft operating there. The VFR cruising altitudes prescribed in Federal Aviation Regulation 91.159 for level flight between 3,000 feet above the surface and 18,000 feet msl specify odd thousand-foot altitudes plus 500 feet (e.g., 3,500, 5,500) for magnetic courses 0–179 degrees, and even thousand-foot altitudes plus 500 feet (e.g., 4,500, 6,500) for courses 180–359 degrees.

Midair collision