Rockwell International S-2R accident near Willows, CA
On March 8, 2023, a Rockwell International S-2R (airplane) was involved in an accident near Willows, CA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- March 8, 2023
- Place
- Willows, CA
- Aircraft
- Rockwell International S-2R · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 39.499°N, 122.285°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230308106847
Official records · WPR23FA122
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn March 7, 2023, about 1611 Pacific standard time, a Rockwell International S-2R, N8424V, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Willows, California. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 137 aerial application flight. According to the operator, the pilot was scheduled to spray fungicide over several orchards. Data retrieved from an onboard GPS aerial application guidance system showed that the airplane departed Willows/Glenn County Airport (WLW), Willows, California, about 0848 and sprayed 3 fields in about 5 hours. At 1509, after the pilot finished spraying a field, he flew to the accident almond orchard and performed an orbit of the field. The field was 1/2 mile square, and divided by 2 banks of parallel power transmission lines running north-south, and held by 3 equally spaced sets of 130 ft tall towers. The owner of the plot reported that he employs a ground crew to spray the trees that grow beneath the power lines. The pilot returned to WLW about 1519 and departed at 1541 for the almond orchard and began spraying at 1544. The airplane flew a racetrack pattern in a north-south direction over the field immediately west of the powerlines. During each pass over the field the airplane descended to between 130 ft agl and 140 ft agl, at speeds of about 160 mph. After he refilled the hopper again at 1549, the pilot departed at 1554 to continue spraying. He returned to WLW one more time at 1601 for about 4 minutes and departed for the almond orchard for the last time
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from powerlines while flying under multiple conductors during a low-altitude aerial application flight, which resulted in propeller contact with a powerline and a subsequent loss of control.
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Browse: California · Rockwell International 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.
