Aero Commander S2R accident near Vinton, Iowa, July 17, 2018
On July 17, 2018 at about 6:45 pm local time, a 1973 Aero Commander S2R, registered N5553X, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Vinton, Iowa (Vinton Veterans Memorial Airpo 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
Loss of throttle control input due to a failure in the throttle control system. Contributing to the accident was the inadequate inspection and reinstallation of worn parts by maintenance personnel.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2018 · about 6:45 pm local time · cases in 2018
- Place
- Vinton, Iowa · Vinton Veterans Memorial Airpo · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S2R, built 1973 · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5553X · no longer on the register · serial 1753R
- 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 stated that on final approach, he slowed the airplane for landing. When the airplane crossed the end of the runway, he reduced the throttle back, but the airplane would not slow, so he executed a go-around. During the go-around, the engine lost partial power and would not respond to the pilot’s throttle inputs. The pilot then executed a forced landing in a cornfield, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. Examination of the throttle control system revealed that the interlocking teeth mechanisms between the carburetor lever stop assembly and the throttle control lever were worn and lost integrity to interconnect. The teeth on the lever stop assembly were severely worn. Thus, it is likely that during the accident flight, when the pilot actuated the throttle control lever, the throttle control system failed when the worn-down teeth on the lever stop would not engage the teeth on the mating throttle control lever. This caused a loss of the throttle lever input, which allowed the engine to enter a low rpm condition. The material examination also noted a mismatch in hardness of the associated parts; although the hardness values were typical for the respective part compositions and microstructures, the mismatch in hardness lent itself to higher wear rates. A review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that the carburetor had been removed for overhaul and reinstalled 135 hours before the accident. It is likely that maintenance personnel reinstalled the worn parts without thoroughly inspecting them.
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
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel control/carburetor › Fatigue/wear/corrosion other cases naming the engine
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Repair › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,141 hours in all; 201 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 1,139 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 4, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15,680 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 12, 2018; 92 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt and Whitney R-1340-S3H1-G (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Noe Aviation Llc
The flight
- Departed from: KVTI Vinton IA at 5:54 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 09, 4,000 ft by 70 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from KVTI, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photo 1 – Photograph of the Accident Airplane Looking Aft
Photo 2 – Photograph of the Accident Airplane Looking Forward
Photo 3 – Throttle Control Lever and Lever Stop from Accident Airplane with Inset Photo of Worn TeethThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 19, 2021. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report | PDF, 17 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Carburetor Bench Testing and Exam Notes | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum of Record for FAA Exam | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Photographs of Accident Airplane | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N5553X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N5553X: not on the register today · the record of its deregistration
- Aero Commander S2 60 registered today · the model family and its accident history
- Aero Commander 709 aircraft on the register
- Engine: Pratt and Whitney R-1340-S3H1-G 1,229 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Vinton Veterans Memorial Airpark · nearest airport
- Accidents and incidents in Iowa 871 since 1982 · 131 in the last ten years
- Iowa 4,513 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N5553X 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/CEN18LA278.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.