What happened
On June 14, 2024, at approximately 08:40 central daylight time, two Air Tractor AT-502B aircraft were involved in a midair collision near Whiteface, Texas. Both aircraft were operating under Title 14 CFR Part 137 as agricultural sprayers.
The pilot of N2032K had planned to spray the corners of a field, while the pilot of N8525V intended to spray the center circle of the area. The pilots had coordinated a plan where the pilot of N2032K would act as the "high man" and the pilot of N8525V would act as the "low man."
During the operation, the pilot of N2032K was performing a spray pass from west to east. Simultaneously, the pilot of N8525V was performing a pass from north to south. The pilot of N2032K reported seeing the other aircraft begin to climb into his flight path and attempted an evasive maneuver by banking to the right.
The collision resulted in 1 fatal injury to the pilot of N8525V and 1 serious injury to the pilot of N2032K.
Debris from both aircraft was scattered across a 700-foot by 400-foot area covering the active cotton field and an adjacent field to the south. The wreckage of N8525V was found inverted in a field south of the spray area. The wreckage of N2032K was located approximately 400 feet east of the N8525V wreckage.
The investigation
Investigators noted black transfer marks on the right composite wing tip pieces of N2032K. Portions of the right wing from N8525V were located within the main wreckage of N2032K.
In the wreckage of N8525V, the engine showed significant torsional twisting, and a ground scar containing a propeller blade was found 20 feet north of the main wreckage. The aft fuselage had separated, and the top of the vertical stabilizer was located approximately 30 feet south of the main wreckage.
In the wreckage of N2032K, the engine was found bent in a U-shape with significant torsional twisting, and two compressor hubs had been liberated from the engine. A ground scar containing wingtip fragments and left navigation light pieces was found 42 feet northwest of the main wreckage.
Investigators confirmed that flight control continuity was maintained through the impact separations for both aircraft. Additionally, SATLOC G4 and SATLOC Falcon CPUs were recovered from the respective aircraft and sent to the NTSB Recorders Lab for data recovery.