Rockwell International S2R accident near Strasburg, North Dakota, August 10, 2021
On August 10, 2021 at about 12:40 pm local time, a 1985 Rockwell International S2R, registered N4956X, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Strasburg, North Dakota. It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s intentional flight under power lines and his failure to maintain clearance from the lines during an aerial application flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 10, 2021 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Strasburg, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell International S2R, built 1985 · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N4956X · registry record · serial 2164R
- 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 had completed one aerial application flight and was in the process of spraying a sunflower field. The flight track indicated that the airplane entered the area from the north and made a left turn over the field. The recorded flight track ended before the airplane descended toward the target field. It is likely that the pilot started spraying the field beginning at the northeast corner and headed west. A witness driving eastbound observed the airplane flying west after it exited the sunflower field. As the airplane flew under three power lines, the top of the vertical stabilizer hit the second line. The airplane then collided with the third line, crashed onto a road, and slid into a field. A colleague of the pilot, who was familiar with the operation, stated that he and the pilot had sprayed this field many times before and that they always used a north-south racetrack pattern. He had never seen the pilot spray this field in an east-west pattern before and added that it should not be done due to the large powerlines on the west side of the field. A postaccident examination of the accident site and airplane revealed wire strike signatures on the airplane. Two areas on the airplane exhibited black sooting and burn marks, which were indicative of the airplane contacting two power lines simultaneously resulting in electrical arcing. The airplane examination did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on equipment
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Decision related to condition
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell TPE331-6-252M (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7L2 Linton ND at 11:30 am
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 am from K7L2, 8 miles away
Weather report (METAR): K7L2 101235Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 13/10 A2989 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 CEN21FA368.