National Transportation Safety Board

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report

Location: Elgin, NV Accident Number: WPR20LA246A

Date & Time: 07/30/2020, 1256 PDT Registration: N8510M
Aircraft: Air Tractor AT802 Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Public Aircraft

On July 30, 2020, about 1256 Pacific daylight time, two Air Tractor AT-802A airplanes,
N8510M and N1558W, were destroyed when they were involved in an accident near Elgin,
Nevada. The pilots of both airplanes were fatally injured. The airplanes were operated as public
use firefighting flights.

The airplanes were functioning as single-engine airtankers (SEATs) for the Bureau of Land
Management providing aerial firefighting services at the time of the accident. According to
automatic dependent surveillance broadcast data (ADS-B) and witness statements, the
airplanes departed Mesquite, Nevada as a flight of two about 1225 to deploy their third load of
fire retardant that day. ADS-B data showed that N8510M was in lead and N1558W was in trail
as they flew northeast towards a designated fire traffic area in a climb. At 1252:47, the pilot of
N8510M started a descent from 7,100 ft msl accompanied by a slight right turn to the north
and then he turned west about 15 seconds later. N1558W followed the movements of N8510M
from about 1,500 ft behind him. About this time a lead airplane had begun to escort the flight
of two SEATs to their intended drop area. At 1254:37, N8510M turned left to a southeast
heading and descended from about 6,000 ft msl, with N1558W still about 1,500 ft in trail.
N1558W began a turn to the southeast a few seconds later and descended from 6,100 ft msl,
but when they leveled out, N1558W was about 500 ft in trail of and 100 ft below N8510M. The
data showed that the airplanes were in a descent about 400 ft above ground level when the
ADS-B data ceased temporarily at 1955:23 for N8510M and at 1955:28 for N1558W. The data
for N8510M resumed at 1255:38 and showed the airplane in a climb along a southeast heading.
The track for N1558W resumed at 1255:45 and showed the airplane in a climb on a similar
heading about 70 ft in trail and 125 ft below N8510M.

Video recorded by a ground witness captured both airplanes seconds before their collision,
which showed N8510M descend to a low altitude, deploy fire retardant, and then immediately
begin a shallow climb. The video showed N1558W following very close in trail of N8510M
during this time. N1558W then deployed fire retardant and began a rapid climb. Witnesses in
nearby firefighting aircraft stated that they heard the pilot of N1558W announce over the radio
that he had retardant on his windshield and was initiating a go-around. According to witnesses

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This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
on the ground, as N1558W climbed, it suddenly began a left turn and collided with N8510M.
Both airplanes then descended rapidly to the ground.

Postaccident examination of the accident site revealed that N8510M was mostly consumed by a
postimpact fire. The wings and forward fuselage of N1558W came to rest about 315 ft beyond
N8510M and did not burn. The tail section of N1558W, was located about 450 ft northwest of
the forward fuselage and was partially damaged by postimpact fire.

The wreckages were retained for further examination.

Figure 1: Flight track of N1558W and N8510M

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This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
Figure 2: Flight track and accident sites

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Air Tractor Registration: N8510M
Model/Series: AT802 A Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file Operating Certificate(s) Agricultural Aircraft (137)
Held:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: Observation Time: 1256 PDT
Distance from Accident Site: Temperature/Dew Point: 37°C / 2°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Light and Variable / ,
Variable
Lowest Ceiling: None Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg Type of Flight Plan Filed: Company VFR
Departure Point: Mesquite, NV (67L) Destination: Mesquite, NV (67L)

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This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A Aircraft Explosion: Unknown
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal Latitude, Longitude: 37.361667, -114.566389 (est)
Administrative Information
Investigator In Charge (IIC): Stephen R Stein
Additional Participating Persons: John Waugh; FAA; Las Vegas, NV
Dakota Lowe; Air Tractor; Olney, TX
John Mills; Office of Aviation Services; Boise, ID
George Mitchell; M&M Air Service of Beaumont, Inc.; Beaumont, TX
Kirk Rothwell; Bureau of Land Management
Note: The NTSB did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Page 4 of 4 WPR20LA246A
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when
the final report has been completed.