# NTSB MIA08LA167: Ayres S2R-T15, N4015P, Morton, MS, August 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 17, 2008, 13:05 local (18:05 UTC) - Place: Morton, MS - Coordinates: 32.448055, -89.70111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4481&lon=-89.7011&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 17, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Pratt & Whitney Canada, Hartzell Propeller Inc., FAA / FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68716 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08LA167 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68716/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68716 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA167 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from trees during low altitude maneuvering. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T15, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0970105), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T15, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0970105), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T15, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0970105), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T15, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0970105), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane departed for a scheduled agriculture application from a private airstrip after uploading fuel and pesticide. Authorities were notified once the airplane did not return and it was noted the application was not sprayed on the intended crop. The airplane was located later that evening, approximately a ¼-mile from the intended area of application. The airplane impacted trees on a southerly heading, and several trees and branches were observed cut along the airplane descent path into a wooded area. The airplane separated into several sections during the impact sequence. Examination of the wreckage established flight control continuity, and all separations were from impact forces. All flight controls surfaces and its systems were found at the accident sight. There were no indications of any mechanical discrepancies to any of the engine’s components. Damages to the engine were consistent with the engine at mid to high power range at the time of impact. There were no discrepancies noted that would have prevented normal operation of the propeller. All damage was consistent with impact damage. The propeller was rotating and not feathered, and damages to the blades were consistent with operating at high power at the time of impact. Weather information for the times and area of the accident site revealed no weather conditions existed that would have adverse effect on the pilot and the airplane during the accident flight. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 17, 2008, at 1305 central daylight time, an Ayres, S2R-T15, N4015P, incurred substantial damage when it collided with trees while approaching an application area in Morton, Mississippi. The pilot was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aerial application flight was operated by Cochran Flying Service, under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137. Information obtain from the operator’s representative indicated the pilot had made several applications earlier in the day. He returned back to the private airstrip in Canton, Mississippi, to refuel the airplane with 100 gallons (gal) and load a total of 120 gal of pesticide for the next scheduled application of the day. The pilot departed about 1245 for the intended crop. A family member was concerned when the pilot did not return by the expected time. The crop owner reported that he never saw the airplane and there was no indication that the crop was sprayed. The local authorities were notified and a search for the airplane was initiated. The airplane was located that evening proximately a 1/4 mile north of the intended crop. It was on a southerly heading when it collided with the trees. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with airplane single engine and multi engine land rating; with limitation of carrying passengers in airplanes for hire is prohibited at night and on cross-country flight of more than 50 nautical miles. He was issued a second-class medical certificate in March 28, 2008, with a limitation of must wear corrective lenses. The pilot reported 19,000 total flight hours at the time of the medical. The pilot held an airframe and powerplant certificate with an inspection authorization rating. The pilot’s flightlog books were not provided. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The Ayres, S2R-T15, was built in 1979 with serial number T15-004. The airplane’s classification was restricted and with a category of agriculture and pest control. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector stated a review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed the airplane had an annual inspection on the airframe, propeller, and engine on February 17, 2008, at which time the airplane had accumulated a total of 11,356 hours. The airplane had maintenance performed on June 10, 2008. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION The nearest official weather reporting station was Jackson International Airport (JAN), Jackson, MS., located 24 miles south west of the accident site. The 1254 surface observation was: winds 030 at 9 knots; visibility 8 statute miles; sky condition scatter 1,400, cumulonimbus clouds, broken at 4,900 to 6,500 feet, rain; temperature 28 degrees Celsius; dew point 22 degrees Celsius; altimeter 29.59 inches of mercury. Weather information obtained by the U.S. Department of Commerce National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration for the times and area of the accident sight revealedno weather conditions existed that would have adverse effect on the pilot and the airplane during the accident flight. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The responding FAA inspector stated the onboard GPS system stopped recording the flight approximately 1 mile north, northwest of the accident sight. The airplane was on a south heading when it collided with the trees. The aircraft came to rest in a heavily wooded area on a heading of 180 degrees. The airplane’s propeller cut several trees and branches during its descent. The airplane separated into several sections during the crash sequence. The fuselage and wings came to rest 84 feet from where the airplane first made contact with the trees. The engine section came to rest 75 feet from the fuselage. Examination of the wreckage established flight control continuity; all separation were from impact damage. All flight controls surfaces and its systems were found at the accident sight. The airplane’s engine and propeller were examined by their respective manufacturers with National Transportation Safety Board and FAA oversight. There were no indications of any mechanical discrepancies to any of the engine’s component noted. Damages to the engine were consistent with the engine at mid to high power range at the time of impact. There were no discrepancies noted that would have prevented normal operations of the propeller. All damage was consistent with impact damage. The propeller was rotating and not feathered, and damages to the blades were consistent with operating at high power at the time of impact. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The Mississippi State Medical Examiners Office in Jackson, Mississippi, conducted a postmortem examination. The cause of death for the pilot was blunt force trauma. The FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) conducted toxicology testing on specimens from the pilot. No carbon monoxide, cyanide, ethanol, or drugs were detected. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4015P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4015P-2014-10-07), registration cancelled 2014-10-07, S/N T15-004, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AYRES S2R-T15 - Registry model: [Ayres S2R-T15](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-t15) (registry code 0970105) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-60A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-canada-pt6a-60a) (registry code 52043, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T15-004 - Airframe hours: 7261 - Engines: Pratt and Whitney of Canada PT6A-34AG 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Cochran Flying Service - Registered owner: Cochran Flying Service - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 17, 2008, 408 hours before - Departed: NONE, Canton, MS - Destination: NONE, Canton, MS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 19,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 9 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,200 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: JAN, 24 nm away ## 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 20080817844929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080817844929A), Aug 17, 2008: Ayres S2RT15NORMAL, Branch, MS, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. (-23) Aircraft crashed into trees enroute to field to be sprayed. ## Other investigations on N4015P (1) 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 ATL86FEK04](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL86FEK04), Jul 16, 1986: Ayres S2R-T15 (N4015P), Mandale, OH, substantial damage ## Docket (14 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=68716. 8.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327982&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: Federal Aviation Administration Inspector's Statement. (item 2, .PDF, 44 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327984&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector%27s%20Statement.-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous: Aero View of Accident Location, Provide by the Federal Aviation Administration. (item 3, .PDF, 845 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327985&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Aero%20View%20of%20Accident%20Location,%20Provide%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.PDF - Reports from Parties to the Investigation: Excerpts from Pratt & Whitney Examination. (item 4, .PDF, 522 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327987&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Parties%20to%20the%20Investigation%3A%20Excerpts%20from%20Pratt%20%26%20Whitney%20Examination.-Master.PDF - Reports from Parties to the Investigation: Excerpts from Hartzell Propeller, Inc. Examiantion. (item 5, .PDF, 365 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327988&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Parties%20to%20the%20Investigation%3A%20Excerpts%20from%20Hartzell%20Propeller,%20Inc.%20Examiantion.-Master.PDF - Miscellaneous: Weather Documentation for the KJAN Area. (item 6, .PDF, 388 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327989&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Miscellaneous%3A%20Weather%20Documentation%20for%20the%20KJAN%20Area.-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 7, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327993&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 8, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40327995&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1) View of the Cut Trees Made by the Airplane Descent. Photo Provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. (item 9, .PDF, 782 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328037&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201)%20View%20of%20the%20Cut%20Trees%20Made%20by%20the%20Airplane%20Descent.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.PDF - Photo 2) Rear View of the Wreckage. Photo Provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. (item 10, .PDF, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328038&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202)%20Rear%20View%20of%20the%20Wreckage.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.PDF - Photo 3) View of the Left Side of the Wreckage. Photo Provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. (item 11, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328042&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203)%20View%20of%20the%20Left%20Side%20of%20the%20Wreckage.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.PDF - Photo 4) View of the Cut Tree Branch. Photo Provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. (item 12, .PDF, 970 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328047&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204)%20View%20of%20the%20Cut%20Tree%20Branch.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.PDF - Photo 5) View of the Separated Engine Nacelle Section. Photo Provided by the Federal Aviation Administration. (item 13, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328052&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205)%20View%20of%20the%20Separated%20Engine%20Nacelle%20Section.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation%20Administration.-Master.PDF - Photo 6) View of the Propeller Blade. Photo Provided by the Federal Aviation. Administration. (item 14, .PDF, 871 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40328054&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%206)%20View%20of%20the%20Propeller%20Blade.%20Photo%20Provided%20by%20the%20Federal%20Aviation.%20Administration.-Master.PDF 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.