Ayres Corporation S2R-T34 accident near Parkin, Arkansas, July 23, 2022
On July 23, 2022 at about 2:12 pm local time, a 1999 Ayres Corporation S2R-T34, registered N4046S, was destroyed in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Parkin, Arkansas. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from tower guy wires while maneuvering.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 23, 2022 · about 2:12 pm local time
- Place
- Parkin, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres Corporation S2R-T34, built 1999 · all S2R-T34s on the register
- Registration
- N4046S · no longer on the register · serial T34-266
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot had made multiple aerial application flights before the accident flight. Automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B) data showed that the airplane made multiple passes over the field north of the tower, which was located in the field. During the final pass over the field, the airplane turned north toward the western guy wires. The airplane struck the guy wires and impacted the terrain north of the tower. The operator’s representative stated that the pilot had been briefed about the field’s obstructions, specifically the location of the tower and its guy wires located in the intended field to be sprayed with fungicide. He stated that the pilot had previously flown over the field more than once. The airplane was destroyed by postcrash fire and impact forces, which prevented confirmation of flight control continuity. The propeller displayed S-shaped bending consistent with power generation. No mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal airplane operation were noted. Toxicology testing revealed that the pilot had used cannabis. The psychoactive compounds delta-9-THC and delta-8-THC were detected in his heart blood at low concentrations. THC can decrease vigilance and has effects for several hours. However, because of the fat storage and slow release of THC, low concentrations in blood can reflect use several days ago. How recent or frequent the pilot’s use of cannabis was unknown, as was the type of product. Given these unknowns, while the pilot was found to have cannabis in his system, it could not be determined if the concentration would have been impairing and influenced his vigilance about avoiding the antenna hazard.
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 › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Identification/recognition › Pilot
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Wire › Awareness of condition
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 530 hours in all; 375 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 10,614.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 8, 2022
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W PT6A-34AG (turboprop); 10,396 hours total
- Fire on the ground
- Operator: Air Aids Inc
The flight
- Departed from: Earle AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 am from AWM, 18 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
13 documents, released by the NTSB on May 30, 2024. 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 | Memorandum of Record - Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 Request for Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 Second Request | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum of Conversation - Dennie Stokes | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Memorandum of Conversation - Daniel Butler | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | ADS-B Track Plot | map file | Download |
| 7 | ADS-B Data | data file | Download |
| 8 | Record of Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 9 | Wreckage Diagram - FAA | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 10 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 11 | Aircraft Records | PDF, 13 pages | View Download |
| 12 | NTSB Medical Specialist's Factual Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 13 | Toxicological Report | 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 CEN22LA335.