# NTSB LAX95LA154: Ayres S2R-T34, N3105B, Stanfield, AZ, April 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 5, 1995, 17:09 local (Apr 6, 1995, 00:09 UTC) - Place: Stanfield, AZ - Location: 32.8794° N, 111.9628° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Stanfield, AZ, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.8794&lon=-111.9628&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28000 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28000/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA154 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain an adequate visual lookout for, and clearance from, obstacles while conducting simulated aerial application operations. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - aerial application - object - wire,transmission - visual lookout - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis THE SURVIVING PASSENGER SAID HE HAD NO MEMORY OF THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT AND WAS IN THE REAR SEAT TO OBSERVE THE USE OF A GPS-BASED GUIDANCE SYSTEM WHICH HIS COMPANY HAD PURCHASED. THE OPERATOR IS A DISTRIBUTOR FOR THE GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND WAS CONDUCTING CLASSES FOR PURCHASERS OF THE SYSTEM. THE AIRCRAFT HAD NO CHEMICALS ON BOARD. A WITNESS WAS 1 MILE FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE AND SAW THE AIRCRAFT IN A TURN NEAR THE EDGE OF A FARM FIELD, THEN SAW THE BLACK SMOKE RISING FROM THE SITE. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EXAMINED BY AN FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR WHO SAW WIRE CONTACT SIGNATURES ON THE RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR AND SPREADER BOOMS. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO BE TURNING FROM A SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST DIRECTION IN A 40-DEGREE BANKED TURN WHEN IT STRUCK FOUR 1-INCH DIAMETER ALUMINUM POWER LINES AT A FARM FIELD'S WESTERN BOUNDARY. THREE OF THE LINES WERE SEVERED. THREE SEPARATE SECTIONS OF THE WIRE HAD ENDS WITH A CUT APPEARANCE, WITH NO EVIDENCE OF DUCTILE DEFORMATION OR NECKING. THE PROPELLER DISPLAYED LEADING EDGE DAMAGE, CHORDWISE SCORING, TORSIONAL TWIST SIGNATURES, AND TIP BENDING OPPOSITE THE CAMBERED SIDE. NO EVIDENCE OF MECHANICAL DISCREPANCIES WERE FOUND. ## Factual narrative On April 5, 1995, at 1709 mountain standard time, an Ayres S2R- T34, N3105B, collided with power lines near Stanfield, Arizona. The 2-place training version of the S2R aircraft was operated by Custom Farms Air Service of Stanfield, and was demonstrating a GPS-based application guidance system developed for agricultural aircraft operators. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the operation, which was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. The aircraft was destroyed in the collision sequence and postcrash fire. The certificated commercial pilot sustained fatal injuries; however, the passenger receiving the system demonstration incurred minor injuries. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Stanfield on the day of the accident at 1615. The surviving passenger, who holds a commercial pilot certificate with a helicopter rating, stated that he had no memory of the accident flight. The passenger, an employee of an east coast agricultural aircraft operator, said he was seated in the rear seat and was observing the use of a GPS-based guidance system which his company had recently purchased. The operator stated that the company is a distributor for the guidance system and was conducting training classes for purchasers of the system. The company reported that the aircraft did not have chemicals on board, and the purpose of the flight was to familiarize the students with system operation during typical aerial application operations. One ground witness was located 1 mile away from the accident site. He observed the aircraft in a turn near the edge of a farm field, then saw the black smoke rising from the accident site. The aircraft was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector from the Scottsdale, Arizona, Flight Standards District Office. He reported observing wire contact signatures on the right main landing gear and spreader booms. The aircraft appeared to be traveling from a southwest to northeast direction when it contacted four 1-inch diameter aluminum power lines strung between poles at the western boundary of a farm field. Three of the lines were noted to be severed. The inspector noted that the wire contact signatures on the spreader boom leading edge were oriented on a 45-degree angle to the vertical axis and pointed in toward the fuselage. Three separate sections of the wire were observed to have ends with a cut appearance, with no evidence of ductile deformation or necking evident. The propeller was observed to display leading edge damage, chordwise scoring, torsional twist signatures, and tip bending opposite the cambered side. The inspector stated that he found no evidence of mechanical discrepancies in his examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3105B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3105B-1997-02-18), registration cancelled 1997-02-18, S/N T34136DC (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AYRES S2R-T34 - Registry model: [Ayres S2R-T34](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-t34) (registry code 0970106) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T34-136DC - Airframe hours: 3535 - Engines: P&W PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Walton Enterprises Of Arizona, doing business as Custom Farms Air Service - Registered owner: Cfs Aircraft Trust - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 28, 1994, 867 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 17,000 total, 2,100 in this make and model, 16,790 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19950405007069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950405007069A), Apr 5, 1995: Ayres S2RT34NORMAL, Stanfield, AZ, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Demostrating GPS ag application guidance. Struck wires during a turn around, crashed and burned. Prop cut wires. 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.