# NTSB LAX89DUJ10: Ayres S-2R, N4977X, Yuma, AZ, September 14, 1989

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: September 14, 1989, 08:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Yuma, AZ
- Coordinates: 32.679862, -114.659347 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6799&lon=-114.6593&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26136
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX89DUJ10
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26136/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX89DUJ10

## Probable cause

THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL AFTER LANDING ON A DRY GRAVEL RUNWAY.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

WHILE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO CORRECT BACK TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT'S MAIN GEAR DUG INTO SOFT DIRT ALONGSIDE THE RUNWAY AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP INVERTED. THE DRY GRAVEL RUNWAY WAS 60 FEET WIDE AND THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE. NO PREIMPACT MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WERE REPORTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N4977X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4977X-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 5022R, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Ayres S-2R
- Registry model: [Rockwell International S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-s-2r) (registry code 7630202) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Wright C7BA series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/wright-c7ba-series) (registry code 67017, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 5022R
- Airframe hours: 2386
- Engines: WRIGHT R-1820-97 1200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Operator: Schmit Robert, Schmit Doug, doing business as Schmit Aviation
- Registered owner: Schmit Aviation
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, August 7, 1989, 100 hours before
- Airport: Twelfth Street Airstrip, runway 27, 2,800 × 60 ft, gravel

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 8,903 total, 485 in this make and model, 2,233 as pilot in command, 191 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °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 19890914034899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19890914034899A), Sep 14, 1989: Ayres S2RRESTD, Yuma, AZ, Substantial damage. Veered to edge of runway on landing. Main wheel dug into soft dirt on edge of runway flipping aircraft over.

## Other investigations on N4977X (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 WPR11LA094](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA094), Jan 10, 2011: Rockwell International S-2R (N4977X), Oakley, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: An in-flight collision with an unmarked meteorological evaluation tower (MET) during an aerial application flight due to the pilot's failure to see and avoid the obstacle. Contributing to the…
- [NTSB LAX94LA158](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX94LA158), Mar 11, 1994: Rockwell S-2R (N4977X), Tacna, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: a catastrophic internal engine failure for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the dark nighttime lighting conditions.

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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