# NTSB ERA21LA167: Ayres S2R-G6, N3299X, Vienna, GA, March 31, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 31, 2021, 15:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Vienna, GA · Private airstrip.
- Coordinates: 32.0917, -83.733 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0917&lon=-83.7330&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102846
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102846/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102846
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA167

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper decision to attempt a takeoff with a quartering tailwind and his failure to reject the takeoff in a timely manner, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=0970216), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0970216), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md)
- [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=0970216), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G6, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=0970216), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0970216), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G6, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0970216), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was taking off from his private airstrip with a left quartering tailwind for an aerial application flight. Due to payload and wind conditions, flying airspeed was not attained prior to his anticipated liftoff point. The nose of the airplane began to veer to the left, and he attempted to correct the drift. He passed his decision point and attempted to avoid a ditch in his path. The airplane impacted the northern bank of the ditch, shearing off the landing gear and damaging the propeller and spray system. After the airplane came to rest, the pilot egressed and a postaccident fire destroyed the wreckage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3299X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3299X-2022-09-09), registration cancelled 2022-09-09, S/N G6-134 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AYRES CORPORATION S2R-G6
- Registry model: [Ayres S2R-G6](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-g6) (registry code 0970216) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: G6-134
- Year built: 1996
- Airframe hours: 5171
- Engines: Honeywell TPE331-6 715 hp turbo prop
- Damage: Destroyed
- Fire: On-Ground
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2021
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: N/A, Private, runway 36, 2,900 × 65 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 22,414 total, 4,479 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 10 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: ACJ, 23 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 20210331001259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210331001259A), Mar 31, 2021: Ayres Corporation S2R-G6, Vienna, GA, Destroyed. Pilot was on fourth load of the day and was on roll out on departure and could not get the aircraft tail wheel up enough to get the lift needed for take off…

## Other investigations on N3299X (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 CHI03LA311](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA311), Sep 9, 2003: Ayres S2R-G6 (N3299X), Cash, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: The delayed aborted takeoff by the pilot. The ditch was a factor to the accident.

## Docket (6 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 2, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102846. 17.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12230318&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA correspondence - pilot written statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 278 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12230832&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20FAA%20Correspondence-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 598 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12231035&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=3%20FAA%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 748 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12230741&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=4%20Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Accident site diagram (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 127 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12230598&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=5%20Airstrip%20and%20Accident%20Site-Rel.pdf
- Excerpts - maintenance records (item 6, PDF, 4 pages, 13.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12230842&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6%20Mx%20Records%201_Redacted-Rel.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.

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