# NTSB SEA96LA020: Snow S2C, N1694S, Dufer, OR, November 16, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 15, 1995, 16:10 local (Nov 16, 1995, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Dufer, OR - Coordinates: 45.400772, -121.159332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4008&lon=-121.1593&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42312 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42312/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA020 ## Probable cause A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. A FACTOR WAS THE EVASIVE MANEUVER TO AVOID A DITCH. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - aerial application - engine assembly,cylinder - cracked (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - maneuver to avoid obstructions - performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - encountered, pilot in command ## Analysis THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING AN AERIAL APPLICATION SPRAY RUN, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH AND BACKFIRE. THE AIRPLANE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT MADE A FORCED LANDING TO AN OPEN FIELD. PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN, THE PILOT PULLED THE AIRPLANE UP TO MISS A DITCH. THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND THEN LANDED HARD. POSTCRASH INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED A CRACK IN THE HEAD ON THE #5 CYLINDER. ## Factual narrative On November 15, 1995, at 1610 Pacific standard time, a Snow S2C, N1694S, experienced a loss of engine power during an aerial application flight. The pilot initiated a forced landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the airplane collided with rough terrain near Dufer, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight had originated from Culver, Oregon, on November 15, 1995, at 1555. The pilot reported during an interview and subsequent written statement, that he was spraying a weed killer over a field at approximately ten feet above ground level, when the engine began to run rough and backfire. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude and the pilot initiated a forced landing to a field that was straight ahead and uphill. Prior to touch down, the pilot noticed a ditch and pulled up. The airplane stalled then landed hard. A post-crash inspection of the engine revealed a crack on the number five cylinder head. The crack travelled from the front to the rear spark plug hole. The pilot/owner reported that the engine had accumulated 950 hours since the last overhaul. Total time on the engine is unknown and a history on the cylinder is unknown. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1694S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1694S-2012-08-10), registration cancelled 2012-08-10, S/N 1276C, built 1965 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SNOW S2C - Registry model: [Snow S2C](https://openairdocs.org/model/snow-s2c) (registry code 8380206) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-985 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-985-series) (registry code 52008, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1276C - Engines: P&W 1340 AN-1 600 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Registered owner: Gary D. Zuber - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 1995, 363 hours before - Departed: 5S5, CULVER, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 16,000 total, 850 in this make and model, 15,800 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 2 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 36 °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 19951115036619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951115036619A), Nov 15, 1995: Ayres S2C, Dufer, OR, Substantial damage. Lost power on a spray run. Collided rough ground on forced landing. Stall landed. NR5 cyl cracked. 950 hrs soh. ## Other investigations on N1694S (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 OAK72DVA26](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/OAK72DVA26-164645), Oct 2, 1971: Aero Comdr S2C (N1694S), Huron, CA, substantial damage 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.