# NTSB CHI03LA273: Ayres S2R-T660, N4114A, Blytheville, AR, August 19, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 2003, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Blytheville, AR - Coordinates: 35.934444, -89.9225 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9344&lon=-89.9225&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Little Rock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57780 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA273 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57780/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=57780 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA273 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate visual lookout and altitude/clearance not being maintained from the transmission wires. A factor to the accident was the transmission wires. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - wire,transmission (contributing factor) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The aerial application airplane impacted transmission wires while performing a spray run. The pilot stated he had flown over the transmission wires on three separate spray runs and was familiar with their location. The pilot reported that he initiated a spray run to the west and "looked down to check pressure gauge on spray boom [and] when I looked up [the] wires were in my face." The pilot stated he should have kept his "attention/concentration on flying the aircraft and not the spray system." ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2003, at 1530 central daylight time, an Ayres S2R-T660, N4114A, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damaged during an in-flight collision with transmission wires and terrain near Blytheville, Arkansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The aerial application flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137 without a flight plan. The pilot reported minor injuries. The local flight departed Blytheville Municipal Airport (HKA), Blytheville, Arkansas, about 1310. According to the pilot's written statement, he had flown over the transmission wires on three separate spray runs and was familiar with their location. The pilot reported that he initiated a spray run to the west and "looked down to check pressure gauge on spray boom [and] when I looked up [the] wires were in my face." The pilot stated he should have kept his "attention/concentration on flying the aircraft and not the spray system." The pilot reported there were no malfunctions or failures during the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4114A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4114A-2004-05-04), registration cancelled 2004-05-04, S/N T660-102, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ayres S2R-T660 - Registry model: [Ayres S2R-T660](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-t660) (registry code 0970112) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52034, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T660-102 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A 1050 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Henry's Aerial Service, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: HKA, Blytheville, AR - Destination: HKA, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 3, 2003; seat: center; flight hours: 25,700 total, 1,250 in this make and model, 300 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 79 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: HKA ## 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 20030819023369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030819023369A), Aug 19, 2003: Ayres S2RT660, Blytheville, AR, Destroyed. (-23) 08/19/2003 At approx. 15:30 CDT, while conducting aerial application under visual meteorological conditions, N4114A an ayers 660 struck high tension… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=57780. 337 KB in all. - Pilot-operator aircraft accident report NTSB form 61201 (item 1, PDF, 6 pages, 337 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=1042148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report%20NTSB%20Form%2061201-Master.pdf 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.