N9136U

On August 15, 2000, at 1330 central daylight time, an Air Tractor AT-502, N9136U, and a Schweizer G-164B, N944QC, both agricultural airplanes, collided in flight while landing at the F L Braughton Airport near Deerpark, Louisiana. The Air Tractor AT-502 was registered to the Lewis Flying Maintenance Service of Morse, Louisiana, and the Schweizer G-164B was registered to the Angelina Flying Service of Vidalia, Louisiana. Angelina Flying Service was the operator of both airplanes. Both flights were conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 as aerial application flights. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the Air Tractor AT-502, sustained minor injuries, and the commercial pilot, sole occupant of the Schweizer G-164B, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for either flight. Both flights originated from the privately owned F L Braughton Airport, located 5 miles south of Deerpark.

The Air Tractor was on a straight-in approach for a north landing. The Schweizer had made a base leg from the west over high power lines and trees for a north landing. The Air Tractor was about 60 feet agl when the Schweizer impacted the top of its fuselage, aft of the cockpit. Both airplanes impacted the ground together about a quarter mile short of the runway. A fire destroyed both airplanes.

FAA AC 90-66A, Recommended Standard Traffic Patterns And Practices for Aeronautical Operations At Airports Without Operating Control Towers, states in paragraph 8c, that "arriving aircraft should be at the appropriate traffic pattern altitude before entering the traffic pattern. Entry to the downwind leg should be at a 45 degree angle abeam the midpoint of the runway."

The operator reported that communication at the privately owned airport is by FM radio. The Air Tractor was not equipped with an FM radio.