What happened
On June 20, 2024, at 12:58 mountain daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-802, registration N802TP, and an Air Tractor AT-502B, registration N581TW, were destroyed in a mid-air collision near Arco, Idaho. Both aircraft were being operated by the same company as part of Part 137 aerial application flights. The aircraft were operating out of the Arco-Butte County Airport (AOC).
Prior to the accident, both aircraft had been performing multiple application flights within 10 miles of the airport. The AT-502B departed the airport at approximately 12:30 carrying 400 gallons of a fungicide and insecticide mixture for wheat application. The AT-802 departed at approximately 12:45 with full fuel tanks and 575 gallons of insecticide for potato application.
Data recovered from an iPad used for application tracking indicated the AT-802 was working fields north of US Highway 26, performing northwest and southeast passes. While the AT-502B was equipped with ADS-B, the AT-802 was not. ADS-B data showed the AT-502B flying tracks over wheat fields before turning south, overflying the area where the AT-802 was operating.
Witnesses traveling westbound on US Highway 26 observed one aircraft flying north to south at a low altitude and a second aircraft flying on a northerly heading. The witnesses reported that the southbound aircraft appeared to make a left turn in front of the northbound aircraft, and the northbound aircraft then appeared to turn left to avoid the first plane before the collision occurred.
The collision resulted in 1 fatal injury to the pilot of the AT-502B and 1 serious injury to the pilot of the AT-802. The wreckage and debris were located on sagebrush-covered terrain south of US Highway 26.