# NTSB GAA18CA410: Ayres S2R, N3098L, Pantego, NC, July 1, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 1, 2018, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Pantego, NC - Coordinates: 35.607498, -76.778335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.6075&lon=-76.7783&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 10, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97727 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA410 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97727/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97727 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA410 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain the proper approach path during landing, which resulted in landing short of the runway. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-R1340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=0970210), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-R1340, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0970210), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Ayres S2R-R1340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=0970210), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area undershoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370) (defining event); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-R1340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md?model=0970210), [All aircraft, 201 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/370/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-R1340, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0970210), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-R1340, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=0970210), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the owner of the agricultural application airplane, the commercial pilot was performing a simulated agricultural application flight with about 70 gallons of water in the hopper. After spraying water on the fields next to the private runway, during landing, the airplane touched down short of the runway. The main landing gear (MLG) struck a ditch, and the right MLG separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The owner added that, before the flight, the pilot had accumulated 0.3 hour of total flight experience in the airplane. ## Factual narrative According to the owner of the aerial application airplane, the commercial rated pilot was performing a simulated aerial application flight with about 70 gallons of water in the hopper. After spraying water on the fields next to the private runway, during landing, the pilot touched down short of the runway. The main landing gear struck a ditch and the right main landing gear separated. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the lower fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The owner added that, prior to the accident flight, the pilot accumulated 0.3 hours of total flight time in the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3098L](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3098L-2019-01-11), registration cancelled 2019-01-11, S/N R1340-021, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AYRES S2R (15) - Registry model: [Ayres S2R-R1340](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-r1340) (registry code 0970210) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: R1340-021 - Year built: 1990 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6-27 680 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Lee Flying Service Inc - Registered owner: Lee Flying Service Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special); Standard, Other - Departed: Pantego, NC - Destination: Pantego, NC - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2018; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 615 total, 0.3 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KOCW, 13 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 20180701008999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180701008999A), Jul 1, 2018: Ayres Corporation S2R- TURBINE, Pantego, NC, Substantial damage. While completing a knowledge and skill demonstration, PIC entered steep approach to landing, settled and landing gear hit ground hard, prior to runway.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 24, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97727. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 963 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472155&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472156&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 3, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40472157&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.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. --- 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.