Thrush Aircraft INC S2R-T660 accident near Worthington, Minnesota, August 16, 2009
On August 16, 2009 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Thrush Aircraft INC S2R-T660, registered N660RB, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Worthington, Minnesota (Worthington 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
A fatigue failure of the elevator push-pull rod which resulted in the pilot's inability to control the aircraft's pitch attitude while landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 16, 2009 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Worthington, Minnesota · Worthington Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thrush Aircraft INC S2R-T660 · all S2R-T660s on the register
- Registration
- N660RB · no longer on the register · serial T660-114DC
- 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 reported he heard and felt a “loud pop” at the end of a spray run and realized he did not have elevator control. The pilot controlled the pitch attitude using power and elevator trim as he flew back to an airport to land. The pilot decided to land at a higher than normal airspeed so he could maintain control of the airplane. The airplane bounced twice during the landing. During the second runway impact, the main gear collapsed. The airplane slid approximately 200 feet and veered off the right side of the runway prior to coming to rest and sustained substantial damage to the right wing. A post accident examination of the airplane revealed the elevator push-pull rod was fractured through the first full thread of the threaded shaft adjacent to the conical section. The remaining threaded section of the rod was threaded into the monoball spherical bearing fitting. A metallurgical examination revealed a fatigue fracture that initiated from both sides of the threaded shank on the rod end. Examination of the monoball bearing revealed several dents in the metallic bearing shield. The shape, size, and location of the dents and the deformation of the bearing shield were consistent with over-travel contact by the boss on the monoball bearing.
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
- Flight control sys malf/fail during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Flight control system › Elevator control system › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Pitch control › Attain/maintain not possible
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 7,448 hours in all; 502 in this make and model; 146 in the last 90 days; 146 in the last 30 days; 7,248 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 9, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 556 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2009; 52 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 14,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-65AG (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Boardman Air Service LLC
The flight
- Departed from: OTG Worthington MN at 9:30 pm
- Destination: OTG Worthington MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 29, 5,506 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 280° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observation at 10:35 pm from OTG
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.
Other NTSB records under N660RB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.