# NTSB ATL07LA033: Ayres S2R-G6, N3209X, Wauchula, FL, January 21, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 21, 2007, 09:10 local (14:10 UTC) - Place: Wauchula, FL - Coordinates: 27.508888, -81.875 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5089&lon=-81.8750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Tampo FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65177 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65177/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07LA033 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare which resulted in a hard landing and overload failure of the right landing gear strut. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear attachment - overload ## Analysis According to the pilot, during a normal soft field landing the right main gear collapsed about 20 yards into the landing roll and the airplane came to an abrupt stop. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found wrinkling of the metal skin between the front and rear spars on the right wing. Further examination found the right main gear strut fractured and separated near its attachment point to the airframe. The landing gear strut was removed and sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for further examination. The examination found that the fractures were on slant planes and had deformation adjacent to the fractures consistent with overstress fracture in bending. Corrosion deposits on the fracture surface were orange in color consistent with post-fracture oxidation. No significant preexisting corrosion was observed. The right main gear collapsed following a hard landing. ## Factual narrative On January 21, 2007, at 0910 eastern standard time, an Ayers S2R-G6, N3209X registered to and operated by Ag Flying Service, Inc., as a Title 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight, collapsed the right main landing gear during a soft field landing at the Wauchula Municipal Airport in Wauchula, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The commercial pilot reported no injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight originated from the Wauchula Municipal Airport at about 0830. According to the pilot, during a normal soft field landing the right main gear collapsed about 20 yards into the landing roll and the airplane came to an abrupt stop. The pilot egressed without injury. Examination of the airplane by an FAA Inspector found wrinkling of the metal skin between the front and rear spars on the right wing. Further examination found the right main gear strut fractured and separated near its attachment point to the airframe. The landing gear strut was removed and sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory for further examination. The examination found that the fractures were on slant planes and had deformation adjacent to the fractures consistent with overstress fracture in bending. Corrosion deposits on the fracture surface were orange in color consistent with post-fracture oxidation. No significant preexisting corrosion was observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3209X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3209X-2026-09-01), registration cancelled 2026-09-01, S/N G6-128, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ayres S2R-G6 - Registry model: [Ayres S2R-G6](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-g6) (registry code 0970216) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: G6-128 - Engines: Garrett TPE-6-252M 715 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: AG Flying Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2006 - Departed: CHN, Wauchula, FL - Destination: CHN, Wauchula, FL - Airport: KCHN, Wauchula Municipal Airport, runway 36, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2006; seat: single; flight hours: 18,000 total, 4,800 in this make and model, 18,000 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 7 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: BOW ## 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 20070121001279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070121001279A), Jan 21, 2007: Swrngn S2RG6, Wauchula, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On January 21, 2007 at 0910 EDT an ayers corporation model S2R-G6, N3209X, registered to ag flying service inc. had the right side fixed landing gear… 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. --- 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.