# NTSB LAX78DVA34: Aero Comdr S2R, N8868Q, Kettleman City, CA, April 11, 1978

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Closed
- Date: April 11, 1978
- Place: Kettleman City, CA · KETTLEMAN CITY, CA
- Location: 36.0090° N, 119.9629° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kettleman City, CA, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0090&lon=-119.9629&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 21, 1978
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 142610
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX78DVA34
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX78DVA34

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-0482  78/4/11  NR.KETTLEMAN CITY,CA  AERO COMDR S2R      CR-  0  0  1  COMMERCIAL                COMMERCIAL, FL.INSTR.,
        TIME - 1745                    N8868Q              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        AGE 42, 5000 TOTAL HOURS,
                                       DAMAGE-SUBSTANTIAL  OT-  0  0  0                            50 IN TYPE, INSTRUMENT
                                                                                                   RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         KETTLEMAN CITY,CA            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           STALL: MUSH                                              IN FLIGHT: SURVEY FIELD/AREA
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - DIVERTED ATTENTION FROM OPERATION OF AIRCRAFT
           PILOT IN COMMAND - FAILED TO OBTAIN/MAINTAIN FLYING SPEED
        FACTOR(S)
           MISCELLANEOUS ACTS,CONDITIONS - LOAD NOT JETTISONED
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL - 1400                       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (LIQUID)
          KIND OF CROP - OTHER                                     TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-TOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - NOT INSTALLED                         CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -LEVEL,FLAT
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  250                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - CROSSWIND
        REMARKS- WEED CONTROL.ATTEMPTING TO ATTRACT ATTENTION OF FLAGGER.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N8868Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8868Q-2017-02-04), registration cancelled 2017-02-04, S/N 1468R, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMDR S2R
- 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
- Engines: reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage

## 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 19780411005439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19780411005439A), Apr 11, 1978: Ayres S2R, Kettleman City,, CA, Substantial damage. Weed control. Attempting to attract attention of flagger.

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.

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