Ayres Corporation S-2R accident near Monroe, Louisiana, May 14, 2009
On May 14, 2009 at about 7:20 pm local time, a Ayres Corporation S-2R, registered N223SB, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Monroe, Louisiana. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the power transmission lines during an aerial application run.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 14, 2009 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Monroe, Louisiana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres Corporation S-2R · all S-2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N223SB · registry record · serial T45-014DC
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was performing an aerial application flight in a field that had a set of power lines located in it. During the last pass of the application run, the airplane collided with the power lines and subsequently impacted terrain, coming to rest on a set of railroad tracks.
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
What happened, in order
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Response/compensation
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring environment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 24,300 hours in all; 12,500 in this make and model; 22,800 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 2, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 9,005 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 2009
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney PT6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Brooks Flying Service INC
The flight
- Departed from: Monroe LA
- Destination: Monroe LA
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.