Ayres S2R-T34 accident near Corning, AR
On June 14, 1997, an Ayres S2R-T34 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Corning, AR. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- June 14, 1997
- Place
- Corning, AR
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-T34 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 36.410°N, 90.579°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001208X08110
Official records · FTW97FA220
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On June 14, 1997, at 1017 central daylight time, an Ayres S2R-T34 agricultural airplane, N3103D, was destroyed following an inflight break-up while maneuvering near Corning, Arkansas. The instrument rated commercial pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was fatally injured. The airplane, owned and operated by Hatley Flying Service of Delaplaine, Arkansas, was being operated under Title 14 CFR Part 137 at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local aerial application for which a flight plan was not filed. The flight originated from Delaplaine, Arkansas, at approximately 0945. The owner of the field being sprayed reported that he observed the airplane dispensing the herbicides to his rice fields in a north to south pattern. Upon completion of the third swath, the eyewitness observed the airplane initiate the pull-up to execute the turn to reverse direction over the tree line at the end of the field being sprayed. The witness added that he momentarily diverted his attention to the inside of his truck to put the vehicle in motion. When he looked up, he observed the left wing of the airplane falling to the ground and the "airplane cork screwing to the ground." The left wing came to rest 90 yards from the tree line, with the main wreckage coming to rest approximately 289 yards beyond the left wing. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The commercial pilot, age 54, certificate number 426767826, had 24 years of experience in aerial application operations. He had accumulated over 18,400 hours of flight, of which 15,000 were agricultural airp
Probable cause
The in-flight separation of the left wing as result of fatigue crack of the lower spar cap due to inadequate materials by the manufacturer. A factor was the operator's failure to comply with a published service bulletin on the airframe.
More accidents in AR
- Beech 65-A80, May 16, 2005
- Cessna 208B, Apr 28, 2001
- Piper PA-23-250, Nov 17, 2002
- Grumman G1159, Jan 19, 1990
- Piper PA-31-350, May 8, 2005
Browse: Arkansas · Ayres aircraft
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
