# NTSB LAX90DVA09: Rockwell S2R, N3657X, Mendota, CA, August 18, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 18, 1990, 04:00 local (11:00 UTC)
- Place: Mendota, CA
- Coordinates: 36.670436, -120.450836 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6704&lon=-120.4508&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 5, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 26563
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX90DVA09
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/26563/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX90DVA09

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNKNOWN REASON.  DARKNESS WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power, maneuvering - aerial application
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Forced landing, landing
- In flight collision with terrain/water, landing
  - light condition - dark night (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - crop
  - terrain condition - ditch

## Analysis

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER DURING A SPRAY RUN.  HE DUMPED HIS CHEMICAL LOAD.  SUBSEQUENTLY, THE AIRCRAFT COLLIDED WITH CROPS AND A DITCH, THEN IT NOSED OVER.  NO PRE-ACCIDENT PART FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION OF THE ENGINE WAS FOUND.  THE COLLISION OCCURRED DURING DARKNESS AT 0400 PDT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3657X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3657X-1992-05-18), registration cancelled 1992-05-18, S/N 1888R (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ROCKWELL S2R
- Registry model: [Aero Commander S2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-commander-s2r) (registry code 0143022) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1888R
- Airframe hours: 8329
- Engines: P&W R-1340 600 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Aerial application, Part 137
- Registered owner: Western Ag. Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 1990, 343 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 28; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 2,600 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 200 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night/dark
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °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 19900818034339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900818034339A), Aug 18, 1990: Ayres S2RR1340REST, Mendota, CA, Destroyed. Struck a ditch bank and nosed over while spraying cotton.

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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