Ayres Corporation S2R-G10 accident near Minden, Nebraska, June 28, 2012
On June 28, 2012 at about 11:45 am local time, a Ayres Corporation S2R-G10, registered N3299Z, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Minden, Nebraska. 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 pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the wake turbulence from a previous pass.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2012 · about 11:45 am local time
- Place
- Minden, Nebraska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres Corporation S2R-G10 · all S2R-G10s on the register
- Registration
- N3299Z · no longer on the register · serial G10-120
- 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 that during the aerial application flight he made the first pass over a field where the wind was light and variable. He then turned around and flew a pass over a tree line and descended "maybe a little low," where he flew the airplane through the wake turbulence from his previous pass. According to the pilot, the turbulence disrupted the "round out" to the field and the airplane's wheels and left wing contacted the corn. The airplane turned sideways, slid backwards, and its empennage sustained substantial damage when it deformed. The pilot indicated that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane during the flight.
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
- Turbulence encounter during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › (general) › (general) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Turbulence › Wake turbulence › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 117 in this make and model; 1,000 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,294 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, March 1, 2012
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE-331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
- Operator: Campbell Aerial Spraying INC
The flight
- Departed from: Minden NE
- Destination: Minden NE
- Flight plan: not recorded
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from EAR
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.