# NTSB LAX81FVA62: Aero Comdr 600S2R, N3655X, Kettleman City, CA, September 15, 1981

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Closed
- Date: September 15, 1981
- 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: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report November 9, 1981
- Report: Brief approved by the director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 123805
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX81FVA62
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX81FVA62

## NTSB brief

```
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 FILE    DATE          LOCATION          AIRCRAFT DATA       INJURIES       FLIGHT                        PILOT DATA
                                                               F  S M/N     PURPOSE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3-2310  81/9/15  NR.KETTLEMAN CITY,CA  AERO COMDR 600S2R   CR-  1  0  0  COMMERCIAL                PRIVATE, AGE 34, 2441
        TIME - 0730                    N3655X              PX-  0  0  0  AERIAL APPLICATION        TOTAL HOURS, 425 IN TYPE,
                                       DAMAGE-DESTROYED    OT-  0  0  0                            NOT INSTRUMENT RATED.
        DEPARTURE POINT             INTENDED DESTINATION
         KETTLEMAN CITY,CA            LOCAL
        TYPE OF ACCIDENT                                         PHASE OF OPERATION
           COLLIDED WITH: WIRES/POLES                               IN FLIGHT: PROCEDURE TURNAROUND
        PROBABLE CAUSE(S)
           PILOT IN COMMAND - MISJUDGED CLEARANCE
         SPECIAL DATA
          TOTAL HOURS IN CROP CONTROL -  425                       KIND OF OPERATION - DEFOLIATION (LIQUID)
          KIND OF CROP - COTTON                                    TYPE OF CHEMICAL USED - LIQUID CHEMICAL-NONTOXIC
          PILOT' S SEAT BELT -UNKNOWN/NOT REPORTED                 GLOVES - USED
          GOGGLES - NOT USED                                       CRASH HELMET - AVAILABLE USED
          COCKPIT CRASHPAD - INSTALLED                             CRASH BAR - INSTALLED
          TANK/HOPPER-LOCATION - FORWARD OF PILOT                  TERRAIN-TYPE -HILLY
          ELEVATION-AREA BEING TREATED-FEET -  300                 SWATH RUN-HOW FLOWN - WIND CALM
          PROCEDURE TURNAROUND - THIRD 1/3 TURN
         FIRE AFTER IMPACT
        REMARKS- STRUCK PWR LNS.
```

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3655X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3655X-2014-10-02), registration cancelled 2014-10-02, S/N 1887R, built 1974 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AERO COMDR 600S2R
- 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: Destroyed

## 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 19810915059909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19810915059909A), Sep 15, 1981: Ayres S2R, Kettleman City, CA, Destroyed. Caught fire, crashed and burned after striking a high voltage powerline during a spraying operation.

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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