- Date
- April 18, 1994, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place
- Monticello, AR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N8958QAero Commander S2R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 7, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940418008299A
- Case key
- 19035
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of power for undetermined reasons and the inadvertant stall during the forced landing. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Following takeoff, during initial climb, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power due to undetermined reasons. During the forced landing, to unsuitable terrain, the pilot inadvertently stalled the airplane. The airplane was loaded with full fuel and its hopper was fully loaded..
Factual narrative
On April 18, 1994, at 1330 central daylight time, a Aero Commander S2R, N8958Q, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Monticello, Arkansas. The commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the aerial application flight.
In an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot stated that the aircraft lost engine power during initial climb from Monticello Municipal Airport. A witness reported hearing the engine making "a light backfiring noise." In an interview with the (FAA) inspector, the loader stated that the aircraft had full fuel and a full hopper. A certificated flight instructor observed the airplane make a turn to the west, and "then observed his left wing drop and saw plane pitch nose down into trees."
An inspection of the accident site and surrounding area revealed that the terrain was marked by trees and other objects.
Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector failed to reveal any anomalies in either the airframe or engine.
Numerous attempts to have the pilot file the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 (Pilot/Operator Report) were unsuccessful.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N8958Q
- Reported as
- Aero Commander S2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1628R
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Walnut Ridge Flying Service
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 34
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 2,800 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 11 knots
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 84 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PBF, 35 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.
Other investigations on N8958Q · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.