# NTSB WPR10CA439: Ayres S2R-G10, N6125X, Ligurta, AZ, August 31, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 31, 2010, 04:30 local (11:30 UTC) - Place: Ligurta, AZ - Coordinates: 32.738609, -114.348892 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7386&lon=-114.3489&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 20, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 77147 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR10CA439 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77147/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77147 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR10CA439 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from rising terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to orient the application tracks so that they did not provide the maximum possible clearance from the rising terrain, and, the predawn lighting conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=0970217), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Decision related to condition; cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=0970217), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Terrain: mountainous/hilly terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md?model=0970217), [All aircraft, 329 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-G10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=0970217), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/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-G10, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=0970217), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the owner of the aerial application company, the single engine airplane was loaded with 430 gallons (approx 3440 lbs) of liquid insecticide for its mission. The airplane departed from a satellite airstrip about 0400 mountain standard time (MST), in order to spray an agricultural field located approximately 5 miles east of the airstrip. When the airplane failed to return to the airstrip at the expected time, the loader became concerned. He telephoned the owner, and the owner initiated a search for the airplane. About 0545, the wreckage was located, approximately 125 feet above, and 1/2 mile to the west of, the field being sprayed, on rocky, rising terrain. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that airplane struck the terrain in a relatively level attitude, while on an approximate track of northwest, and came to rest facing southwest. The commercial pilot stated that he completed several passes on the field, and was maneuvering the airplane for another pass, when the wind shifted. The airplane was unable to out climb, and subsequently impacted, the terrain. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The pilot reported that he had about 28,500 total hours of flight experience, including 1,388 hours in the accident airplane make and model, and he had been conducting agricultural spraying in the area for the previous 4 months. When asked by the FAA inspector, the pilot stated that if he could change anything about the flight, he would have applied the agent on north-south tracks instead of east-west tracks, in order to provide more clearance from the rising terrain to the west. US Naval Observatory data indicated that local sunrise was about 0612 MST. The automated weather observation at an airport located approximately 20 miles west of the accident site included winds from 020 degrees at 3 knots; visibility 10 miles; clear skies; temperature 24 degrees C; and a dew point of 12 degrees C. ## Factual narrative According to the owner of the aerial application company, the single engine airplane was loaded with 430 gallons (approx 3440 lbs) of liquid insecticide for its mission. The airplane departed from a satellite airstrip about 0400 mountain standard time (MST), in order to spray an agricultural field located approximately 5 miles east of the airstrip. When the airplane failed to return to the airstrip at the expected time, the loader became concerned. He telephoned the owner, and the owner initiated a search for the airplane. About 0545, the wreckage was located, approximately 125 feet above, and 1/2 mile to the west of, the field being sprayed, on rocky, rising terrain. Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that airplane struck the terrain in a relatively level attitude, while on an approximate track of northwest, and came to rest facing southwest. The commercial pilot stated that he completed several passes on the field, and was maneuvering the airplane for another pass, when the wind shifted. The airplane was unable to outclimb, and subsequently impacted, the terrain. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The pilot reported that he had about 28,500 total hours of flight experience, including 1,388 hours in the accident airplane make and model, and he had been conducting agricultural spraying in the area for the previous 4 months. When asked by the FAA inspector, the pilot stated that if he could change anything about the flight, he would have applied the agent on north-south tracks instead of east-west tracks, in order to provide more clearance from the rising terrain to the west. US Naval Observatory data indicated that local sunrise was about 0612 MST. The automated weather observation at an airport located approximately 20 miles west of the accident site included winds from 020 degrees at 3 knots; visibility 10 miles; clear skies; temperature 24 degrees C; and a dew point of 12 degrees C. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6125X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6125X-2012-07-30), registration cancelled 2012-07-30, S/N G10-105, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AYRES S2R-G10 - Registry model: [Ayres S2R-G10](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-g10) (registry code 0970217) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [AiResearch TPE331 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (registry code 01517, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: G10-105 - Airframe hours: 4970 - Engines: Airesearch TPE-331 940 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Operator: Morris Equipment - Registered owner: Morris Equipment - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 30, 2010 - Departed: Yuma, AZ - Destination: Yuma, AZ - Airport: 12E Airstrip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2009; seat: single; flight hours: 28,522 total, 1,388 in this make and model, 28,537 as pilot in command, 125 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 20° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: NYL, 20 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 20100831044029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100831044029A), Aug 31, 2010: Ayres Corpo S2R-G10, Wellton, AZ, Substantial damage. On August 31, 2010, about 0430 mountain standard time, an Ayres corporation, S2R-G10, N6125X, was substantially damaged when it impacted the terrain along the… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 2, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77147. 819 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 353 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337979&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Narrative (item 2, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337317&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Narrative-Master.PDF - Additional FAA Accident Information (item 3, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337318&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Additional%20FAA%20Accident%20Information-Redacted.PDF - Yuma County Sheriff's Report (item 4, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337319&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Yuma%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Report-Master.PDF - METARs (item 5, .PDF, 11 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337320&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=METARs-Master.PDF - FAA Photo - Wreckage on hill (item 6, .PDF, 180 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338673&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Photo%20-%20Wreckage%20on%20hill-Master.PDF - FAA Photo- Closeup of wreckage, with field in background (item 7, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40338674&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Photo-%20Closeup%20of%20wreckage,%20with%20field%20in%20background-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.