19970618015169A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Ayres S-2R · Pond Creek, OK · June 18, 1997

Date: June 18, 1997 · 10:00 local
Place: Pond Creek, OK
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
Operator: TDIG
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N4859X
NTSB investigation: NTSBFTW97LA228
Reported as: Ayres S2R
Reported engine: Garrett TPE3311151A
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 20,000 total300 in this make and model

N4859XRegistered now · Rockwell International S-2RS/N 2051R · Built 1974 Airframe modelRockwell International S-2R Engine modelPratt & Whitney R1340 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

During the takeoff initial climb, approximately 30 feet AGL, the agricultural airplanes engine lost power. The pilot pulled back on the control stick and intentionally stalled the airplane in order to prevent it from nosing over on touchdown in the soft field. The hard landing resulted in the collapse of both main landing gear. Examination of the engine and the propeller revealed no pre-impact discrepancies which would have precluded normal operation. (-23) pilot reported that the engine lost power just after takeoff. He was unable to remain airborne and crash landed in a wheat field adjacent to the airport.

As the FAA filed it

DURING THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB, APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET AGL, THE AGRICULTURAL AIRPLANES ENGINE LOST POWER. THE PILOT PULLED BACK ON THE CONTROL STICK AND INTENTIONALLY STALLED THE AIRPLANE IN ORDER TO PREVENT IT FROM NOSING OVER ON TOUCHDOWN IN THE SOFT FIELD. THE HARD LANDING RESULTED IN THE COLLAPSE OF BOTH MAIN LANDING GEAR. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE AND THE PROPELLER REVEALED NO PRE-IMPACT DISCREPANCIES WHICH WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATION. (-23) PILOT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE LOST POWER JUST AFTER TAKEOFF. HE WAS UNABLE TO REMAIN AIRBORNE AND CRASH LANDED IN A WHEAT FIELD ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB FTW97LA228Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPond Creek, OKloss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). A factor relating to the accident was: the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.Jun 18, 1997 · Destroyed