A Memorial Tribute to 13 pilots

The mission for ag-aviation is no fatalities. There was only one year in recent history that this was accomplished in the U.S. This year was not good in that respect. With a total of ten ag-aviation fatalities and no less than three SEAT fatalities, it leaves a large hole in the ag-aviation community.

April 7— Thad Cooper

The first agaviation fatality accident for 2020 happened on April 7 per the NTSB report. The pilot, Thad Cooper, was fatally injured when his AT-502 crashed near Pecan Gap, Texas. Cooper is survived by his wife, four children and parents. He was 46 years old.

June 16— Eddie Charles Gideons, Jr.

On June 16, Eddie Charles Gideons, Jr. was fatally injured when his AT-502B crashed in Atmore, Alabama. According to the NTSB report, Gideons called his wife to say he was making a fly-by. Per the NTSB, “... the airplane flew over the house before making a climb straight up. The airplane then banked to the left, rolled right, descended straight down...” Gideons is survived by his wife, his mother, six children, three siblings and nine grandchildren. He was 56 years old.

June 18— Eugene (Gene) John Kritter

Eugene (Gene) John Kritter was killed while spraying in his R66 helicopter. The helicopter struck a steel dove line while spraying corn. Kritter was an ag-pilot of 28 years and served farmers from Virginia to South Carolina. He is survived by his wife and three children. He had turned 65 and celebrated his 30th wedding anniversary the week prior. Kritter Cropdusting, Inc. is based in Culpeper, Virginia.

July 10— Josh Reid

Josh Reid of Reid Aviation and Aerial Spraying in Springfield, Colorado crashed his Grumman G164 radial engine Ag-Cat on July 10 near Springfield. While ferrying the Ag-Cat to a field, Reid reported to his wife that while in flight excessive foam coated the airplane’s windshield and he was unable to see outside of the airplane.

July 10— Paul Gould

On the same day as the Reid accident, July 10, Paul Gould of Webber Falls, Oklahoma was killed during departure in a Cessna T188 near Dustin, Oklahoma. Gould was taking off with a 165-gallon load of herbicide. According to another company pilot, the aircraft did not get airborne when it should have. The Cessna collided with several utility poles before coming to a stop. Gould was 62 years old and is survived by his wife, parents and other relatives.

July 17— Terry Harchenko

Terry Harchenko’s Hiller UH-12D helicopter was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Mehama, Oregon on July 17. This was the sixth fatal accident in the U.S. for 2020. Harchenko had been treating Christmas trees when the accident occurred. He was 65 years old.

July 25— Alex Tuttle

In Grant, Nebraska on July 25, the AT-502B that Alex Tuttle was flying impacted terrain burying the prop and engine three feet into the ground. Per the NTSB, another pilot stated Tuttle’s aircraft “...consistently climbed 450-500 ft AGL during its course reversal turns following each spray pass.” The pilot stated that the last time he saw the accident airplane it was flying westbound in a climb before it rolled right into a 90°-100° bank turn with a nose-high pitch angle of 10°-12° above the horizon. The pilot stated that the accident airplane was turning toward the north as the nose of the airplane pitched down through the horizon, consistent with a Lazy Eight flight maneuver. Satloc GPS data confirmed altitudes given by the witness, along with ground speeds in spray runs of 155 to 165 MPH with turns ranging from 104 to 120 MPH. Tuttle was 31 years old and is survived by his parents and brother.

July 27— Keith Dodson

While other fatalities in 2020 were for experienced ag-pilots, Keith Dodson’s fatal accident on July 27 was on his third load of water for practicing spray runs in a Cessna C-188. According to witnesses in the NTSB report, Dodson had made a couple of spray runs and while in “a turn the airplane suddenly nosed over and impacted the ground”. Dodson was a first year agpilot. He was 50 years old. He is survived by his wife, two daughters, two grandchildren, parents, a sister and other relatives.

August 21— Wes Addison

After July’s five fatal accidents, nearly a month passes before disaster strikes in Del, Arkansas on August 21. Wes Addison was a 28-year vetern ag-pilot, having flown for the same operator since 2004. Wes began his ag-pilot career working for his dad at Addison Flying Service. He was 55 years old at the time of his accident. Witnesses reported that the AT-802 Addison was flying was in a steep turn before losing altitude. The aircraft was found in a nose down attitude with the engine buried in the ground.

September 23— Randy Berry

Another month passes before the 10th fatal accident of 2020 occurs on September 23 near Floral City, Florida. Randy Berry was spraying in a Pawnee PA-25. A witness to the accident saw the aircraft appear to pitch up to clear an obstacle “...then abruptly went down.” Berry was a high-time agpilot and ag-pilot instructor with over 31,000 hours and more than 50 years of flying experience.

July 30— David Blake Haynes and Scott Thomas

Although the following accident reports are not for Part 137 operations, pilots of these SEAT aircraft flew basically the same aircraft ag-pilots fly, the AT-802A. Pilots David Blake Haynes and Scott Thomas were killed when the two AT-802As they were flying collided in mid-air while working the Bishop Fire near Elgin, Nevada on July 30.

The flight of two departed Mesquite, Nevada with their loads of fire retardant. According to ADS-B data and the NTSB report, at 7,100 feet MSL the aircraft started their descent into their intended drop area with the second AT-802 about 1,500 feet behind the lead AT-802. They descend through 6,000 ft MSL with the second AT-802 still about 1,500 ft in trail. When the two AT-802s leveled out, the second AT-802 was about 500 ft in trail and 100 ft below the lead AT-802. In a descent below 400 feet AGL, ADS-B data ceased temporarily. When regained, both aircraft were in a climb with one AT-802 about 70 feet in trail and 125 feet below the lead AT-802.

According to video provided by a ground witness, both aircraft deployed their retardant loads and climbed. In a rapid climb, the trailing AT-802 reported retardant on his windshield and was initiating a go-around. The trailing AT-802 then made a turn and collided into the lead AT-802.

September 22— Ricky Fulton

Ricky Fulton was fatally injured September 22 while fighting a fire in southwestern Idaho in an AT-802A. He was 58 years old. Although an experienced ag and bush pilot, this was his first season as a SEAT pilot. He is survived by his mother, two brothers and other relatives.

Author’s Note: At this writing just before Thanksgiving, the ag-aviation industry has lost 10 of its ag-pilots while doing their jobs flying ag. Additionally, three more pilots were killed while aerial firefighting. It is striking that half the ag-flying fatalities happened in July. It’s a tragic loss for the industry. In reading this article, there are a couple of points to take note. The majority of the accidents appear to be stall related. There does not seem to be a trend related to age or hours logged. The reality is, agflying and aerial firefighting is precision flying in an unforgiving environment. One second of inattention, or one miscalculation is all it takes for tragedy to strike.