# NTSB DEN85LA160: Ayres S2R-600, N4871X, Gardner, CO, June 8, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 8, 1985, 17:30 local (23:30 UTC)
- Place: Gardner, CO
- Coordinates: 37.780311, -105.169197 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7803&lon=-105.1692&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 16700
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN85LA160
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/16700/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN85LA160

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - turn to reverse direction
  - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vs) - below, pilot in command (cause)
  - altitude - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - performance data - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground
  - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly

## Analysis

THE AG-ACFT STALLED & CRASHED DURING AN AG OPERATION IN HIGH DENSITY ALT. THE MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AND DOWNDRAFTS CONTRIBUTED TO THE OVERALL EFFECT OF DISSAPATING THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE ACFT & THE UNDULATING TERRAIN.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4871X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4871X-1997-11-03), registration cancelled 1997-11-03, S/N 2157R (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AYRES S2R-600
- Registry model: [Rockwell International S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-s-2r) (registry code 7630202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: S2R-600
- Airframe hours: 3400
- Engines: P&W R-1340-AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Speartex Grain Co., Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 26, 1985, 63 hours before
- Departed: GARDNER, CO

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 40; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 6,712 total, 39 in this make and model, 6,551 as pilot in command, 82 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 110° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 60 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 10 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TAD, 49 nm away

## 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 19850608023469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850608023469A), Jun 8, 1985: Ayres S2RR1340REST, Gardner, CO, Destroyed. During turn for swath run aircraft stalled and struck trees. Density altitude of 12505 feet a factor.

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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