# Accident 19980721016759A: Ayres S2R, Shafter, CA, July 21, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 21, 1998, 07:15 local time
- Place: Shafter, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Low Level Operations
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: PWWG
- Location: 35.4902° N, 119.3007° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4902&lon=-119.3007&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8960Q, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8960Q) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ayres S-2R (registry code 0970101, https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s-2r) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 series (registry code 52016, https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AYRES S2R
- Reported engine: GARRTT TPE3316252M
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 8,000 total, 440 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA238) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980721016759A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH AN IRRIGATION STANDPIPE WHILE APPLYING CHEMICALS TO A FIELD. THE PILOT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE LAST PASS OVER THE COTTON FIELD IN AN EASTERLY DIRECTION.  THE SUN HAD JUST RISEN AND WAS REFLECTING OFF A CLEAR PLASTIC CROP COVER LOCATED NEXT TO THE STANDPIPE AND THE GLARE MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE STRAIGHT AHEAD.  THE PILOT STATED THAT HE SAW THE STANDPIPE AT THE LAST MINUTE AND ATTEMPTED TO MANEUVER AROUND IT BY PULLING THE AIRCRAFT UP. AFTER COLLIDING WITH THE STANDPIPE, HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING AND CAME TO REST INVERTED.  NO MECHANICAL ANOMALIES WERE NOTED WITH THE AIRCRAFT.  ACCORDING TO A COMPUTER GENERATED SUN/MOON ASTROLOGICAL PROGRAM, THE MAGNETIC BEARING TO THE SUN WAS 60.7 DEGREES, AND IT WAS APPROXIMATELY 14.4 DEGREES ABOVE THE HORIZON.                                 (-23) PILOT, ON THE EAST BOUND PASS WAS DISTRACTED BY SUN DIRECTLY IN HIS EYES AND REFLECTION OF SUN OFF OF PLASTIC COVER OVER TEST PILOT NEXT TO THE IRRIGATION STAND PIPE AND FORGOT ABOUT THE STAND PIPE UNTIL HE SAW IT TOO LATE TO AVOID IT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB LAX98LA238](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA238), Jul 21, 1998: Ayres S2R (N8960Q), Shafter, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate clearance from the irrigation standpipe due to glare from the rising sun.

## Other reports on N8960Q (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20211103018019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211103018019A), Nov 3, 2021: Ayres Corporation S-2R (N8960Q), Shafter, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. At approximately 1930 UTC on November 3, 2021, [privacy data omitted] departed kmit for L88 in N890Q. Soon after takeoff N890Q impacted the terrain in a right…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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