# NTSB FTW04LA157: Snow S2C, N9492R, La Feria, TX, June 5, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 2004, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: La Feria, TX - Coordinates: 26.228332, -97.654167 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.2283&lon=-97.6542&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminsitration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59406 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA157 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59406/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA157 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the obstacle while maneuvering to perform an aerial application. A contributing factor was the high vegetation. ## 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 - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - object - other (cause) - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - aerial application - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis Upon completion of an aerial application pass on a cotton field, the 10,000-hour pilot initiated a turn to reverse direction to the cotton field for another run. Subsequently, the spray boom on the bottom of the right wing impacted a pipe stand that was hidden by vegetation and tall grass. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 2004, approximately 1015 central daylight time, a Snow S2C single-engine agricultural airplane, N9492R, was substantially damaged while maneuvering following an in-flight collision with an object during an aerial application on a field near La Feria, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. The local flight originated from the pilot's private airstrip, near Blue Town, Texas, at an unknown time. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the site of the accident, the pilot had completed an aerial application pass on a cotton field, and initiated a turn to reverse direction to commence another spray run. Subsequently, the spray boom on the bottom of the right wing impacted a pipe stand that was hidden by vegetation and tall grass. The collision "flipped the aircraft around" and it came to rest in an upright position. The commercial pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he had accumulated a total of 10,000 hours, of which approximately 1,000 hours were in the accident aircraft make and model. A completed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) was not received from the pilot or operator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9492R](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9492R-2018-03-08), registration cancelled 2018-03-08, S/N 1132C, built 1962 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Snow S2C - Registry model: [Snow S2C](https://openairdocs.org/model/snow-s2c) (registry code 8380206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1132C - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R-985 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Blue Town, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: center; flight hours: 1,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: HRl, 8 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 20040605014419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040605014419A), Jun 5, 2004: Ayres S2C, La Feria, TX, Destroyed. (-23) On June 5, 2004, at approximately 10:15 CDT, a snow S2C450 airplane, N9492R, was destroyed when it struck an object while spraying a cotton field. The… ## Other investigations on N9492R (2) 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 FTW98LA407](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA407), Sep 18, 1998: Snow S2C (N9492R), Bovina, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. - [NTSB FTW73FRG95](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW73FRG95), Jun 30, 1973: Snow S2C (N9492R), Pearsall, TX, substantial damage 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.