Rockwell S-2R N4938X accident, Alexandria, LA, Nov 18, 1998 · NTSB FTW99LA030

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance with the water during the turnaround maneuver. A factor was the haze over the river.

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.

In flight collision with terrain/waterManeuvering - aerial application

Weather condition - haze/smokeFactor

Clearance - not maintainedPilot in commandCause

Analysis

The left wing impacted the river during the turn around maneuver while spraying rye grass seeds onto a field adjacent to the river. As the evening nighttime approached, the area over the river was hazy. The pilot reported that the accident could have been prevented by 'taking a longer and wider turn coming back into the field.' The accident occurred 40 minutes prior to the U.S. Naval Observatory official time of sunset.

Factual narrative

On November 18, 1998, at 1630 central standard time, a Rockwell S-2R agricultural airplane, N4938X, impacted the water while maneuvering near Alexandria, Louisiana. The airplane was owned and operated by Chandler Flying Service, Alexandria, Louisiana, under Title 14 CFR Part 137. The commercial pilot was not injured and the airplane was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the local aerial application flight. The flight originated from the Chandler Airport, Alexandria, Louisiana, at 1615.

During a telephone interview, conducted by the investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that he was spraying rye grass seeds onto a field adjacent to the Red River with the maneuvering turns made over the river. As the evening night time approached, the area over the river was hazy. During a maneuvering turn, he lost sight of the horizon and the left wing clipped the water. The aircraft came to rest upright on top of the water for 2 to 3 minutes before sinking. The pilot exited the aircraft and swam to shore.

The operator estimated the depth of the river at the place of impact as 25 feet with a water current speed of 2 knots. Numerous boat teams and divers searched for the aircraft; however, the aircraft has not been located and is presumed destroyed.

On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB 6120.1/2), the pilot stated that he pulled the airplane "up in a steep climb to the r[igh]t and then turned back to the left, coming down to make the last pass." The pilot further stated that "at that time I seemed to have lost the horizon and height of the river [and the] left wing hit [the] river. The pilot report that the accident could have been prevented by "taking a longer and wider turn coming back into the field." The pilot stated there were "no mechanical discrepancies with the airplane."

The time of sunset reported by the U. S. Naval Observatory was 1710.

Aircraft

Registration: N4938X
Reported as: Rockwell S-2R
Category: Airplane
Serial number: 2147R
Airframe hours: 7,332
Engine: Garrett TPE-331-1-151, 675 horsepower, turbo prop
Damage: Destroyed
Flight: Aerial application · Part 137
Registered owner: Donald M. Chandler
Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
Last inspection: Annual · May 2, 1998 · 176 hours before
Departed: 99R

N4938XRegistration cancelled Aug 2, 2000 · Rockwell International S-2RS/N 2147R Airframe modelRockwell International S-2R

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: 54
Certificate: Commercial
Airplane ratings: Single-engine land
Medical: Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat: Center
Flight hours: 18,500 total · 12,500 in this make and model · 18,400 as pilot in command · 200 in the last 90 days · 50 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions: Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind: 70° at 5 knots
Visibility: 8 statute miles
Lowest ceiling: None
Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 59 °F
Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
Observed at: AEX, 5 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.

Accident 19981118031459AAyres S2R · Alexandria, LAAcft was on the last pass during aerial application when it pulled up over a levy beneath power lines (-23) while on last pass of aerial application, pilot pulled over levy and beneath powerlines. He lost reference to the horizon during turn and left wing…Nov 18, 1998 · N4938X · Substantial damage