# NTSB ANC98LA130: Ayres S2R-1820, N123GA, Palmer, AK, August 22, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1998, 20:30 local (Aug 22, 1998, 04:30 UTC)
- Place: Palmer, AK
- Coordinates: 61.619243, -148.980453 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.6192&lon=-148.9805&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 28, 1999
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 43872
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA130
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43872/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA130

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate terrain clearance.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

At the conclusion of the flight, the pilot was landing on a farm airstrip.  The airstrip had a high standing crop of barley adjacent to the airstrip.  During the landing roll, the right wing spray boom contacted the crop, and the airplane pivoted to the right.  The airplane received damage to the left wing leading edge, the aileron, and wing ribs.

## Factual narrative

On August 21, 1998, about 2030 Alaska daylight time, an Ayers S2R-1820 airplane, N123GA, sustained substantial damage during landing at a private airstrip about 2 miles northwest of Palmer, Alaska.  The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area, aerial application flight under Title 14 CFR Part 137 when the accident occurred.  The airplane was registered to, and operated by Glenn Air Inc., Palmer.  The certificated commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.  The flight originated at the Palmer Municipal Airport, Palmer, about 1900.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 24, 1998, at 0912, the pilot reported the following:  He was applying chemicals on several fields.  At the conclusion of the spray run, he was landing at a land owner's airstrip, known as Whittaker Farm Airstrip.  The airstrip is about 1,800 feet long, and about 30 feet wide.  The airstrip had a high standing crop of barley adjacent to the airstrip.  During the landing roll, the right wing spray boom contacted the crop, and the airplane pivoted to the right.  The airplane received damage to the left wing leading edge, the aileron, and wing ribs.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N123GA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N123GA-1999-05-18), registration cancelled 1999-05-18, S/N R1340-027 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Ayres S2R-1820
- Registry model: [Ayres S2R-R1340](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-r1340) (registry code 0970210) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1340-026
- Airframe hours: 1600
- Engines: Wright 1820-97 1200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Glenn Air Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, June 20, 1998, 25 hours before
- Departed: PAQ
- Airport: Whittaker Farm

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 33; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 6,500 total, 1,600 in this make and model, 6,400 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 55 °F

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19980821021719A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980821021719A), Aug 21, 1998: Ayres S2RR1820, Palmer, AK, Substantial damage. (From .19) acft crashed on landing under unknown circumstances after aerial application. (From .4) at the conclusion of the flight, the pilot was landing on a…

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.

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