# NTSB LAX08CA085: Ayres S2R-600, N5674X, Blythe, CA, March 25, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 24, 2008, 19:00 local (Mar 25, 2008, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Blythe, CA - Coordinates: 33.619167, -114.716941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6192&lon=-114.7169&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 67715 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA085 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67715/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA085 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain terrain clearance. Contributing factors were the dusk light condition and the pressure the pilot felt to accomplish the flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Light condition: low light](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015/cases.md?model=0970102), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03036015/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md?model=0970102), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Ayres S2R-600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=0970102), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Ayres S2R-600, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0970102), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Personality/attitude: motivation/respond to pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-600, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/cases.md?model=0970102), [All aircraft, 53 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021025/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: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-600, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0970102), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, at the end of a day of aerial application flights, he received a call from a customer who wanted a small field sprayed that evening. The airplane was not equipped with lights for night spraying; however, the pilot felt there was still enough light to safely accomplish the 10-minute job. The flight departed from the pilot's private airstrip at dusk and proceeded to the job area, which was flat terrain with no obstructions except canal banks at each end of the field. The first of three intended spray runs was completed without incident. At the end of the second spray run, the pilot did not see the canal bank at the end of the field. The airplane impacted the canal bank, bounced into the air, glided for about 1/4 mile, hit a second canal bank, nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented "by not allowing anyone, including myself, to pressure me into doing something that I knew was a substantially higher than normal risk for very little benefit." ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, at the end of a day of aerial application flights, he received a call from a customer who wanted a small field sprayed that evening. The airplane was not equipped with lights for night spraying; however, the pilot felt there was still enough light to safely accomplish the 10-minute job. The flight departed from the pilot's private airstrip at dusk and proceeded to the job area, which was flat terrain with no obstructions except canal banks at each end of the field. The first of three intended spray runs was completed without incident. At the end of the second spray run, the pilot did not see the canal bank at the end of the field. The airplane impacted the canal bank, bounced into the air, glided for about 1/4 mile, hit a second canal bank, nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented "by not allowing anyone, including myself, to pressure me into doing something that I knew was a substantially higher than normal risk for very little benefit." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5674X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5674X-2013-02-08), registration cancelled 2013-02-08, S/N 2433R (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ayres S2R-600 - Registry model: [Ayres S2R-600](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-600) (registry code 0970102) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2433R - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R1340 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Cyr Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Departed: Blythe, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; flight instructor, airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 23,000 total, 1,500 in this make and model, 100 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - 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 20080324013999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080324013999A), Mar 24, 2008: Ayres S2R600, Blythe, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot descended too low on spray run and hit a berm with the main gear. The main gear departed the aircraft. The aircraft was flipped over. Damage was… ## Other investigations on N5674X (1) 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 LAX92LA379](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA379), Sep 9, 1992: Ayres S2R-600 (N5674X), Tranquillity, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER INFLIGHT PLANNING; HIS FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER DESCENT RATE; AND THE EXCESSIVE DESCENT. CONTRIBUTING TO THIS ACCIDENT WAS THE LANDING GEAR COLLAPSE DUE TO OVERLOAD. 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.