# NTSB LAX02LA246: Aero Commander S2R-T34, N8822Q, Los Banos, CA, August 5, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2002, 06:20 local (13:20 UTC) - Place: Los Banos, CA - Coordinates: 36.900001, -120.866668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9000&lon=-120.8667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 55380 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX02LA246 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55380/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX02LA246 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerial application - low altitude flight/maneuver - attempted, pilot in command - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - mountainous/hilly ## Analysis The airplane collided with terrain while making a turn during an aerial application flight. The pilot had just finished his first pass over the field. He then pulled up and entered a left turn over hilly terrain along the farm's southern edge. The combined climbing turn and low airspeed were enough to stall the left wing. Shortly thereafter, the left wing contacted terrain. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted by the pilot prior to the mishap. Light winds were reported northwest from 1 to 3 knots. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2002, at 0620 Pacific daylight time, an Aero Commander S2R-T34, collided with terrain while making a turn during an aerial application flight near Los Banos, California. The airplane was operated by Vance Aircraft Salvage, Inc., under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 137. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the local area aerial application flight that originated from a nearby private farm airstrip at 0610. The pilot reported that he had just made his first north-to-south pass over the field to which he was applying chemicals. He then reported pulling up and entering a left turn over hilly terrain along the farm's southern edge in an effort to make a second pass over the field. The combination of the climbing turn and low airspeed was enough to stall the left wing. Shortly thereafter, the left wing contacted terrain. The pilot reported weather the morning of the accident as being clear with light northwest winds at 1-3 knots. No mechanical malfunctions or failures were noted by the pilot prior to the mishap. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8822Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8822Q-2007-08-29), registration cancelled 2007-08-29, S/N 1522R, built 1970 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aero Commander S2R-T34 - 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: 1522R - Airframe hours: 16339.5 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Vance Aircraft Salvage Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 22, 2002, 43.2 hours before - Departed: Los Banos, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review April 12, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 11,440 total, 10,591 in this make and model, 350 in the last 90 days, 117 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: calm - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KMCE, 30 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 20020805017049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020805017049A), Aug 5, 2002: Ayres S2R, Losbanos, CA, No damage. (-23) On 08-05-02 at approximately 0615 hours PDT, Mr. Handy, a commercial pilot working for vance theil, inc., was engaged in agricultural aerial application… ## Other investigations on N8822Q (2) 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. - [NTSB LAX04CA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04CA323), Sep 18, 2004: Aero Commander S2R (N8822Q), Firebaugh, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: the failure of the pilot to maintain clearance from high tension wires in dark night conditions. The reason for the loss of engine power after the wire collision was not determined. - [NTSB LAX83LA148](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX83LA148), Mar 17, 1983: Aero Commander S-2R (N8822Q), Dos Palos, CA, substantial damage 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.