Thrush Aircraft INC S2R-H80 accident near Aurora, Missouri, May 12, 2022
On May 12, 2022 at about 3:35 pm local time, a 2015 Thrush Aircraft INC S2R-H80, registered N510KK, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Aurora, Missouri. 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
The pilot did not ensure clearance from a power line during a surveillance pass of a field to be sprayed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 12, 2022 · about 3:35 pm local time
- Place
- Aurora, Missouri · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Thrush Aircraft INC S2R-H80, built 2015 · all S2R-H80s on the register
- Registration
- N510KK · registry record · serial H80178DC
- 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 prior to spraying any field, he would make two surveillance passes. During the second surveillance pass on the day of the accident, although he was aware of a power line in the vicinity, the pilot did not ensure safe clearance from the power line. The landing gear struck the power line and the airplane impacted terrain. Both wings and the fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane 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
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Flight planning/navigation › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,890 hours in all; 330 in this make and model; 80 in the last 90 days; 28 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: October 25, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,791 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 4, 2022
- Maximum gross weight: 10,500 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ge H80 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M09 Miller MO at 2:30 pm
- Destination: M09 Miller MO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 7 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from KHFJ, 15 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KHFJ 121555Z AUTO 20007G14KT 10SM CLR 27/20 A3006 RMK AO2
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on June 29, 2022. 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, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Photo of the Airplane at the Accident Site, Courtesy of the FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 CEN22LA200.