Aero Commander S2R accident near Cairo, Georgia, September 1, 1999
On September 1, 1999 at about 12:45 pm local time, a Aero Commander S2R, registered N8965Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cairo, Georgia (Cairo-Grady Municipal airport). 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 undetermined reasons. Factors were weather conditions favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 1999 · about 12:45 pm local time
- Place
- Cairo, Georgia · Cairo-Grady Municipal
- 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
- N8965Q · registry record · serial 1635R
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after liftoff from the runway, the engine backfired and lost power. An eyewitness at the airport reported seeing black smoke coming from the airplane during the attempted takeoff. The pilot turned right and selected a field for the emergency landing. After clearing a nearby pond, the pilot dumped the load of chemicals, and landed in a field about 300 yards beyond the pond. The examination of the airplane failed to disclose a mechanical problem. During the examination of the engine, fuel was recovered from the fuel system. Examination of the carburetor also failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction or component failure. A review of the weather data disclosed that the temperature was 68 degrees, and the dew point was 66 degrees. According to the Icing Probability Curves, conditions were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
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: 12,000 hours in all; 2,100 in this make and model; 225 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,137 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 8, 1999
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R-1340-S3H1-G (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 70J at 12:44 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 4,000 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 12:30 pm from TLH, 30 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.