# NTSB WPR23LA333: Ayres S2R-T34, N61373, Three Rocks, CA, September 1, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 31, 2023, 19:15 local (Sep 1, 2023, 02:15 UTC) - Place: Three Rocks, CA · open field off end of private farm strip - Coordinates: 36.44355, -120.31049 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.4436&lon=-120.3105&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 193010 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA333 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193010/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193010 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA333 ## Probable cause The airplane’s exceedance of the critical angle of attack, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring equip/instruments](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 142 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021525/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Ayres S2R-T34, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=0970106), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane’s hopper had been loaded with 300 gallons of water. During the takeoff roll, the airplane did not accelerate as expected so he initiated the emergency dump procedure to jettison the water. The airplane became airborne and the pilot maintained a high angle of attack to climb over trees near the end of the runway. The airplane subsequently experienced an aerodynamic stall, descended into an adjacent field, and impacted terrain. The left wing, right aileron, and elevator sustained substantial damage. The pilot said he suspected the airplane performance was affected by density altitude and he reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61373](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N61373), registered now, S/N T34-216, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AYRES CORPORATION S2R-T34 - Registry model: [Ayres S2R-T34](https://openairdocs.org/model/ayres-s2r-t34) (registry code 0970106) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T34-216 - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 14692 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney PT6-34 750 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Aerial application, Part 137 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Restricted (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, July 11, 2023, 64 hours before - Departed: 43CN, Corcoran, CA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N/A, none - private farm strip ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 42; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 7,610 total, 40 in this make and model, 7,450 as pilot in command, 230 in the last 90 days, 51 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 29.63 inHg - Observed at: KNLC, 19 nm away - METAR: METAR KNLC 010156Z 24015KT 10SM FEW060 FEW200 34/00 A2963 RMK AO2 SLP033 FU FEW060 RH/11 T03390000= ## 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 20230831012409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230831012409A), Aug 31, 2023: Ayres Corporation S2R-T34, Five Points, CA, Substantial damage. On August 31, 2023 an thrush ag aircraft experienced difficulty lifting off of the runway during the takeoff roll. About 3/4 down the runway the pilot elected… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193010. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16191347&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA333_6120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 947 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16190309&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR23LA333_508-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16192050&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20C.Davis_Redacted-Rel.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.