Rockwell International S-2R accident near Larchwood, Iowa, August 12, 2013
On August 12, 2013 at about 6:22 pm local time, a 1977 Rockwell International S-2R, registered N5610X, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Larchwood, Iowa (Rock Rapids 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 complete loss of engine power during an agricultural application flight for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examinations did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 12, 2013 · about 6:22 pm local time
- Place
- Larchwood, Iowa · Rock Rapids Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell International S-2R, built 1977 · all S-2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5610X · registry record · serial 5098R
- 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 a complete loss of engine power occurred during his third agricultural application flight of the day. His attempts to restore engine power were unsuccessful, and he subsequently executed a forced landing to a gravel road. The airplane's left wing struck a powerline support pole during the landing, and the airplane came to rest in a ditch. Fuel was found onboard the airplane. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no anomalies consistent with a loss of engine power. Additionally, an engine test run was conducted, and the engine performed normally during the test run, and no anomalies were observed.
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
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,637 hours in all; 317 in this make and model; 167 in the last 90 days; 73 in the last 30 days; 2,505 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 15, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,852 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, July 25, 2013; 311 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 8,264 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell TPE331-1-151G (turboprop); 11,220 hours total
- Operator: Crop Dusters LLC
The flight
- Departed from: RRQ Rock Rapids IA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: RRQ Rock Rapids IA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from FSD, 16 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.
Other NTSB records under N5610X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN13LA484.