Ayres Corporation S2R-T34 accident near Heth, Arkansas, June 28, 2013
On June 28, 2013 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 1979 Ayres Corporation S2R-T34, registered N455JM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Heth, Arkansas (Blackfish Airstrip 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 partial collapse of the right main landing gear during landing due to an improper previous weld repair to the right main landing gear and subsequent corrosion, which resulted in a loss of directional control and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 28, 2013 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Heth, Arkansas · Blackfish Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres Corporation S2R-T34, built 1979 · all S2R-T34s on the register
- Registration
- N455JM · no longer on the register · serial 6016
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During landing, the right main landing gear hit a pothole on the runway and partially collapsed, which resulted in the pilot's loss of directional control. The pilot's efforts to regain directional control were unsuccessful, and the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright in a ditch on the right side of the runway. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the right wing. A postaccident examination revealed undocumented, improper previous weld repairs to the right main landing gear, which led to undetected corrosion in that area.
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
- Part(s) separation from AC during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
- cause Personnel issues › Miscellaneous › (general) › (general) › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 20,000 hours in all; 2,500 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days
- Last flight review: February 16, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13,306 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 12, 2013; 72 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W Canada PT6A-34AG (turboprop); 45,397 hours total
- Operator: Hutcherson Flying INC
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Heth AR at 7:45 pm
- Destination: NONE Heth AR
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,800 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 340° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.77 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from KAWM, 13 miles away
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.