# NTSB GAA19CA283: Rockwell S2R, N5569X, Grangeville, ID, May 24, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 24, 2019, 06:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Grangeville, ID - Coordinates: 45.921112, -116.217781 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.9211&lon=-116.2178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99492 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA283 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99492/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99492 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA283 ## Probable cause The pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack while turning at low altitude, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aero Commander S2R, 8 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0143022), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during a practice agricultural application flight and after overflying the field, he pulled up hard to avoid a tall tree. He leveled out for about 3/4 mile to build airspeed and initiated a turn to overfly the field again. During the turn, the airplane began to buffet, and the pilot knew it was a "pending stall." He pushed the stick forward, and the airplane descended, so he pulled back on the stick again, and the airplane buffeted. He pushed the stick forward, the main landing gear tires contacted the ground, and the airplane became airborne again. The airplane was approaching power lines, so the pilot banked left, but the airspeed decreased, and the airplane then aerodynamically stalled and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during a practice agricultural application flight with water, after overflying the field, he pulled up hard to avoid a tall tree. He leveled out for about ¾ of a mile to build airspeed and initiated a turn to overfly the field again. During the turn the airplane began to buffet, and the pilot knew it was a "pending stall." He pushed the stick forward, descended, so he pulled back on the stick again and the airplane buffeted again. He pushed the stick forward again, the main landing gear tires contacted the ground and the airplane became airborne again. The airplane approached power lines, the pilot banked left, the airplane "lost air speed" and aerodynamically stalled, and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station, located about 4 miles east of the accident site, reported that, about 5 minutes after the accident, the wind was from 270° at 4 knots. The pilot reported that after he exited the airplane, he realized that there was a tailwind at an estimated speed of 10 to 15 mph. The pilot was flying to the east. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5569X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5569X), registered now, S/N 1769R (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rockwell S2R (No Series) - Registry model: [Aero Commander S2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-s2r) (registry code 0143022) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1769R - Year built: 1973 - Airframe hours: 9824.1 - Engines: Walter M601E-11 760 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 1, 2019 - Departed: S84, Cottonwood, ID - Destination: S84, Cottonwood, ID - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 28, 2019; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 974 total, 368 in this make and model, 974 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: KGIC, 4 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 20190524005099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190524005099A), May 24, 2019: Aero Commander S2R, Grangeville, ID, Substantial damage. Pilot was practicing aerial application over uncle's farm with load of water. Maneuvered to avoid uncle's house and to execute a 180 degree turn to start a new… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99492. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 433 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473729&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 622 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40473730&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.