- Date
- May 28, 1989, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place
- Lambert, MS
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5543XAyres S2R
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 28, 1991
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19890528013839A
- Case key
- 32444
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Failure of the engine impeller. The ditch in the emergency landing area was a related factor.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Just after liftoff, the eng lost all power & the plt jettisoned his load of herbicide. He landed straight ahead, but the acft hit a ditch & nosed over, then burst into flames. The plt sustained a broken foot, but extricated himself before the fuel tanks exploded. An exam of the eng revealed the impeller bearing had failed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5543X
- Reported as
- Ayres S2R
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1743R
- Airframe hours
- 5,000
- Engine
- P&W R-1340, 600 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 91
- Operator
- Mcdaniel, Joe
- Registered owner
- Mcdaniel, Joe
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 1, 1989 · 150 hours before
- Airport
- Ag Strip
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 25
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,103 total · 350 in this make and model · 100 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- GWO, 53 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.
Other investigations on N5543X · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.