- Date
- November 21, 1994, 13:45 local (18:45 UTC)
- Place
- Arcadia, FL
- Injuries
- 1 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N3097BAyres S2R-R1820
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 27, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941121038689A
- Case key
- 37697
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 due to a undetermined failure in the engine power section.
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
The pilot heard a loud bang come from the engine and the engine shutdown. While making a forced landing the aircraft collided with trees and came to rest. A post crash fire erupted and destroyed the aircraft. Examination of the engine indicated the engine suffered an internal failure of the power section which allowed the propeller to be turned but with no responding movement of the pistons.
Factual narrative
On November 21, 1994, about 1345 eastern standard time, an Ayres S2R-R1820, N3097B, registered to Story Aviation, Inc., collided with trees and then the ground while making a forced landing following loss of engine power near Arcadia, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 137 aerial application flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed and the commercial- rated pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated at Arcadia, Florida, on November 21, 1994, about 1330.
The pilot stated that while making an aerial application run over a citrus grove, he heard a loud bang come from the engine and it shut down. While making a forced landing the aircraft collided with trees and then the ground. A postcrash fire erupted and consumed the aircraft.
Postcrash examination of the engine by FAA inspectors indicated the magnetos and carburetor were destroyed by the postcrash fire. The engine was rotated using the propeller. When the engine was rotated the pistons would not move. No further examination was performed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N3097B
- Reported as
- Ayres S2R-R1820
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- R1820-034
- Airframe hours
- 1,867
- Engine
- Wright R1820-202, 1,200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Aerial application · Part 137
- Registered owner
- Story Aviation, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Restricted (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · March 13, 1994 · 222 hours before
- Departed
- FL
- Destination
- FL
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
- 47
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 11,000 total · 450 in this make and model · 11,000 as pilot in command · 75 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 3 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- SRQ, 40 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.