# NTSB FTW96LA236: Rockwell S-2R, N3646X, Dumas, AR, June 4, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 4, 1996, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Dumas, AR - Coordinates: 33.880699, -91.480201 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8807&lon=-91.4802&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 19, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19855 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW96LA236 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19855/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW96LA236 ## Probable cause Failure of all personnel concerned to identify the unsafe/hazardous condition, which resulted from a visual restriction, due to trees near the intersection of the road and runway. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified, airport personnel (cause) - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified, pilot in command (cause) - unsafe/hazardous condition - not identified, driver of vehicle (cause) - facility inadequate,visual restriction (cause) - object - vehicle - visual lookout - not possible, pilot in command - visual lookout - not possible, driver of vehicle - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis Shortly after the airplane became airborne, the pilot saw a butane truck drive in front of him on a road that crossed the departure end of the runway. The pilot applied back pressure on the flight controls in an attempt to climb over the truck; however, the airplane's aft fuselage struck the truck, and the airplane then impacted the ground about 50 feet past the truck. Until moments before the accident, the driver of the truck and the pilot of the airplane were not able to see one another due to a line of 30 foot tall trees beside the road. ## Factual narrative On June 4, 1996, at 1600 central daylight time, a Rockwell S-2R, N3646X, registered to and operated by a private owner doing business as Southern Air Crop Dusting under Title 14 CFR Part 137, was substantially damaged during takeoff near Dumas, Arkansas. The airline transport rated pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application flight and a flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating from the operator's private airport at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he was departing on runway 18 with a load of fertilizer. Shortly after becoming airborne, a butane truck pulled in front of his flight path. The pilot reported that he "immediately applied back pressure on the stick in an attempt to go over him;" however, the aft section of the fuselage impacted the truck. The pilot further reported that, following the collision with the truck, the airplane's elevator was inoperative. The airplane impacted the ground approximately 50 feet past the truck, nosed over, and came to rest inverted. The truck was traveling west on a road that crossed the south end of the runway. Both the driver of the truck and the pilot of the airplane stated that, during the airplane's takeoff roll, their vision of one another was obstructed by a line of 30 foot tall tress that extended down the side of the road. The pilot reported that, since the accident, he has removed the trees "to provide better visibility between the aircraft departing and oncoming traffic." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3646X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3646X-2017-02-22), registration cancelled 2017-02-22, S/N 2149R, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rockwell S-2R - Registry model: [Rockwell International S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-s-2r) (registry code 7630202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2149R - Airframe hours: 5000 - Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: David Blake Haynes - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 13, 1995, 100 hours before - Departed: NONE - Airport: NONE, Private, runway 18, 2,640 × 120 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 12,000 total, 8,500 in this make and model, 10,370 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F ## 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 19960604012639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960604012639A), Jun 4, 1996: Ayres S2R, Dumas, AR, Destroyed. Thrush crop duster aircraft struck top of a butane truck on takeoff, then struck ground. (-23) aircraft took off from a private ag strip, southbound, struck… 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.