Aero Commander S2R accident near Leslie, Georgia, April 10, 1985
On April 10, 1985 at about 11:00 pm local time, a Aero Commander S2R, registered N8834Q, was destroyed in an accident near Leslie, 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 1985 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Leslie, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S2R · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N8834Q · no longer on the register · serial 1534R
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ACFT LOST POWER EN ROUTE TO SPRAY CROPS & CRASH LANDED IN A WOODED AREA. THE ACFT HAD FLOWN ONLY 2 MILES WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. DURING THE POST ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION AN EXAM OF THE POWERPLANT & SYSTEMS REVEALED THAT THE SUPERCHARGER HAD A LOOSE IMPELLER SHAFT AND THAT THE IMPELLER HAD CONTACTED THE HOUSING (CASE). THE IMPELLER CASE HAD LOST METAL IN THE CONTACT AREA AND THE IMPELLER OUTSIDE DIAMETER WAS REDUCED BY APRX 1/4 INCH. THE SUPERCHARGERSHAFT BEARING WERE WORN & LOOSE WHICH ALLOWED THE SHAFT TO MAKE CONTACT WITH ITS HOUSING. AN A M OR D REPORT WAS SUBMITTED BY RUSSELL ACFT TO THE FAA.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 7,015 hours in all; 550 in this make and model; 15 in the last 90 days; 7,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,500 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, December 2, 1984; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 235° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.