# Accident 20211103018019A: Ayres Corporation S-2R, Shafter, CA, November 3, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 3, 2021, 11:30 local time
- Place: Shafter, CA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: PWWG
- Location: 35.5190° N, 119.2183° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5190&lon=-119.2183&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 CORPORATION S-2R
- Reported engine: P&W R1340 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 18,400 total, 7,000 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22FA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA026) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211103018019A

## Narrative

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

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 WING LOW, NOSE DOWN, UNUSUAL ATTITUDE.  THE MAIN WRECKAGE WAS PARTIALLY CONSUMED BY POST IMPACT FIRE.  ARCHIVE AT 1925Z WEATHER FOR KMIT INDICATED THAT THE VISIBILITY WAS 2 MILES WITH A CEILING OF 200 FEET OVERCAST.  THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMANDER AT THE SCENE OF THE ACCIDENT REPORTED THAT DUE TO FOG THE SMOKE FROM THE FIRE WAS NOT VISIBLE UNTIL THEY WERE LESS THAN A MILE FROM THE ACCIDENT LOCATION.

CLASS G AIRSPACE IS ABOVE KMIT FROM THE SURFACE TO 700 FEET AGL.  AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PILOT WAS NOT POSSIBLE AND THE ALTITUDE THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO WAS NOT KNOWABLE.  ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS SCHEDULED TO DEPART EARLIER IN THE MORNING BUT DUE TO FOG DELAYED HIS DEPARTURE.

## 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 WPR22FA026](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22FA026), Nov 3, 2021: Ayres S-2R (N8960Q), Shafter, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s decision to depart into instrument meteorological conditions, which resulted in spatial disorientation and a subsequent loss of airplane control.

## Other reports on N8960Q (1)

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

- [Accident 19980721016759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980721016759A), Jul 21, 1998: Ayres S2R (N8960Q), Shafter, CA, Substantial damage. (.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…

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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