Aero Commander S2R accident near Westbrook, Minnesota, August 15, 2018
On August 15, 2018 at about 4:45 pm local time, a 1973 Aero Commander S2R, registered N5521X, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Westbrook, Minnesota (Rolling Hills airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A runway excursion during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2018 · about 4:45 pm local time
- Place
- Westbrook, Minnesota · Rolling Hills · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S2R, built 1973 · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N5521X · no longer on the register · serial 1721R
- 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 commercial pilot reported that the airplane experienced a loss of engine power at rotation during takeoff. The airplane cleared a soybean field off the end of the runway and then a two-lane road before entering a corn field on the opposite side of the road. The airplane traveled about 300 ft into the corn field with 8-ft-tall corn before nosing over and coming to rest. A postaccident examination did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a loss of engine power or a mechanical failure or malfunction of the flight control system. Engine monitor data revealed that the accident takeoff was the fifth takeoff of the day. At the beginning of the takeoff, the engine speed and torque increased smoothly to full power. About 50 seconds after the takeoff began, the engine speed and torque decreased abruptly over 3 or 4 seconds consistent with the encounter with the corn field. The distance that the airplane traveled into the corn field was consistent with normal acceleration under full engine power during the takeoff run. The engine monitor data revealed that the engine was producing full power until encountering the corn field with no evidence of a loss of engine power. Thus, because the available evidence indicated that the airplane was operating normally at the time of the accident, the investigation was unable to determine why the runway excursion occurred.
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
- Runway excursion during takeoff defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Nose over/nose down during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › (general) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,600 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell TPE-331-6 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3MN4 Westbrook MN at 4:45 pm
- Destination: 3MN4 Westbrook MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 2,250 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from MWM, 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.