# NTSB SEA02LA111: Rockwell S-2R Thrush, N600DN, Winifred, MT, June 26, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 26, 2002, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Winifred, MT - Coordinates: 47.557498, -109.374725 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5575&lon=-109.3747&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 55054 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55054/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55054 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA111 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper inflight decision to continue his aerial application flight after he realized the aircraft might be low on fuel. Factors include the pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a shed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - building(nonresidential) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot, who was conducting his second aerial application flight of the morning, was operating about five miles away from the airport. Although he knew he was getting low on fuel, he elected to "...make a few more passes to finish the load out." After completing the load, he returned directly to the airport, but while the aircraft was on a base leg about two miles out, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot therefore elected to make a forced landing in a nearby field, but the aircraft clipped a shed during the landing sequence. A post accident inspection of the aircraft determined that, except for a small residual amount of fuel, the fuel tanks had been run dry. ## Factual narrative On June 26, 2002, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, a Rockwell International S-2R Thrush, N600DN, collided with a shed during an attempted forced landing in a field about two miles east of Winifred Airport, Winifred, Montana. The commercial pilot received minor injuries, and the aircraft, which was being operated by Newton AG Inc., sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 137 agricultural application flight departed Winifred, Montana, approximately one hour and thirty minutes prior to the accident, and was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, who was conducting his second aerial application fight of the morning, he was operating about five miles away from the airport. Although he knew he was getting low on fuel, he elected to "...make a few more passes to finish the load out." After completing the load, he returned directly to the airport, but while the aircraft was on a base leg about two miles out, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot therefore elected to make a forced landing in a nearby field, but the aircraft clipped a shed during the landing roll. A post accident inspection of the aircraft determined that, except for a small residual amount of fuel, the fuel tanks had been run dry. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N600DN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N600DN-2013-05-01), registration cancelled 2013-05-01, S/N 2109R, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rockwell S-2R Thrush - Registry model: [Rockwell International S-2R](https://openairdocs.org/model/rockwell-international-s-2r) (registry code 7630202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R1340 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r1340-series) (registry code 52016, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2109R - Airframe hours: 5872 - Engines: PZL WSK PZL-3SR 600 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Donald H. Newton - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2002, 90 hours before - Departed: 9S7, Winifred, MT - Destination: 9S7, Winifred, MT - Airport: 9S7, Winifred Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 19, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 14,000 total, 700 in this make and model, 130 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 20020626018609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020626018609A), Jun 26, 2002: Ayres S2R, Winifred, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated aircraft engine failed while on approach to airport. Apparent cause was fuel starvation. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55054. 325 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 325 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40447725&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.