Ayres accident near Doerun, Georgia, August 10, 2006
On August 10, 2006 at about 6:15 pm local time, a Ayres, registered N61224, was destroyed in an accident near Doerun, Georgia. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for an underdetermined reason, resulting in a forced landing, an on ground collision with trees, and a post crash fire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2006 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Doerun, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres
- Registration
- N61224 · registry record · serial G5-102
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated he was in cruise flight en route to a spray area when the engine started losing power. He added power, but the interstage turbine temperature increased and the torque decreased. The pilot made a forced landing into a field and was unable to stop the airplane before it collided with trees, separating the main landing gear. The pilot left the accident site, and was returning to the accident site a short time later when a farmer who had been working near the accident site informed the pilot that after he left the airplane it caught on fire. The pilot arrived at the crash site and the airplane was totally engulfed in flames. The engine assembly was sent to the engine manufacturer for examination under the supervision of the FAA. The teardown and examination of the engine disclosed the type and degree of damage to the engine was indicative of engine rotation and operation at the time of impact with the ground. No pre-existing condition was found that would have resulted in or contributed to the reported loss of engine power.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 11,408 hours in all; 3,983 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 11,408 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 1, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 4,136 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 1, 2006; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: Doerun GA at 6:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 4,500 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 5:53 pm from KABY, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.