Aero Commander S2R accident near White, South Dakota, June 13, 2024
On June 13, 2024 at about 8:55 pm local time, a 1968 Aero Commander S2R, registered N1746S, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near White, South Dakota. 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 low-level collision and engine ingestion with ducks, which resulted in a total loss of engine power, a forced landing, and a subsequent nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 13, 2024 · about 8:55 pm local time
- Place
- White, South Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S2R NO SERIES, built 1968 · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N1746S · registry record · serial 1446R
- 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 he was performing a low-level aerial application flight, applying liquid chemical to a rural pasture. As the airplane was climbing out of the pasture, a flock of ducks flew in front of the airplane at about 30 ft agl. Several seconds later, the turboprop engine quit producing thrust. The pilot checked the engine gauges to verify the total loss of engine power, he moved the power lever forward, and he performed a forced landing from about 80 ft agl to a grass field straight ahead. An emergency hopper dump was not performed prior to landing. During the landing, the airplane’s main landing gear sunk into the wet ground. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot egressed from a broken window on the left-side of the cockpit, as the right-side cockpit door was jammed from the mud. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the engine mount, fuselage, empennage, and the right wing. Prior to the collision and engine ingestion with ducks, the operator reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination confirmed the duck remains were from a Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), which is classified as a large dabbling duck. Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) gender-typing confirmed that both male and female Mallard remains were found in the wreckage.
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
- Birdstrike during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Evacuation during post (impact)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
- Nose over/nose down during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Effect on equipment
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › (general) › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (turbine/turboprop) › (general) › Damaged/degraded
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Animal(s)/bird(s) › Contributed to outcome
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 5,496.3 hours in all; 1,757.1 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 5,239.5 as pilot in command; 6.3 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 22, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 11,798 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2024; 59 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 6,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Honeywell TPE331-6 (turboprop); 11,764 hours total
- Operator: Wilde Air Service LLC
The flight
- Departed from: BKX Brookings SD at 6:50 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from KBKX, 13 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KBKX 132056Z AUTO 32010KT 10SM CLR 27/09 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP153 T02670089 51012
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on August 22, 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Accident Photographs | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 3 | FAA Bird Strike Report Form 5200-7 | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Smithsonian Institution Feather Identification Laboratory - Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Additional Accident Information | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 6 | South Dakota Hunting and Trapping Handbook Excerpt - Mallard | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Aero Commander S2R AFM Excerpts - Emergency Procedures | PDF, 2 pages | 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 CEN24LA229.