# Accident 20031015024999A: Ayres S2RR3SNORMAL, Midland, TX, October 15, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 15, 2003, 16:15 local time
- Place: Midland, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Operating rules: Agricultural (Part 137)
- Operator: TNPG
- Location: 31.9425° N, 102.2017° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9425&lon=-102.2017&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4013Z, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4013Z-2008-11-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Ayres S2R-R3S (registry code 0970202, https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-r3s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Wsk-Pzl PZL-3S (registry code 67204, https://openairdocs.org/engine/wsk-pzl-pzl-3s) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AYRES S2RR3SNORMAL
- Reported engine: WSK PZL3S
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 30,000 total, 2,750 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW04LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA009) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031015024999A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON 10/15/2003, AYRES AIRCRAFT, N4013Z, CRASHED NEAR MIDLAND, TEXAS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED FOR AERIAL APPLICATION OF AGRICULTURAL PESTICIDE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PILOTED BY JAMES B. PRATER. MR. PRATER STATED THAT WHILE MAKING HIS FIRST SPRAY PASS THE WINDSHIELD BECAME COVERED WITH ENGINE OIL, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOSE POWER AND THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE READ ZERO PSI. MR. PRATER STATED HE IMMEDIATELY CLIMBED AND TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE LEFT IN AN ATTEMPT TO LAND IN THE FIELD HE WAS SPRAYING. NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE OUTSIDE THE AIRCRAFT HE ATTEMPTED TO LAND AND STRUCK A CULVERT ON THE NORTH SERVICE ROAD OF INTERSTATE (BUSINESS) 20 WITH THE TAIL WHEEL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE AIRCRAFT CROSSED THE EAST AND WESTBOUND LANES OF BUSINESS 20 THEN STRUCK A TELEPHONE POLE AND THE RAILROAD TRACK THAT PARALLELS THE HIGHWAY. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST INVERTED ON THE SOUTH SERVICE ROAD OF BUSINESS 20. FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED AN OIL LINE ON THE ENGINE HAD RUPTURED.

## 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 FTW04LA009](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA009), Oct 15, 2003: Ayres (N4013Z), Midland, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to a ruptured oil line. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain available for the forced landing.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.