Ayres Corporation S2R-G10 accident near Staples, Minnesota, July 17, 2003
On July 17, 2003 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Ayres Corporation S2R-G10, registered N3299A, was destroyed in an accident near Staples, Minnesota (Staples Muni airport). It was an aerial application (crop spraying) flight under agricultural flying rules (Part 137). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The fatigue fracture of the oil jet flange resulting in a total engine failure during the aerial application.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2003 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Staples, Minnesota · Staples Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres Corporation S2R-G10 · all S2R-G10s on the register
- Registration
- N3299A · registry record · serial G10-117
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Aerial application (crop spraying) flight · agricultural flying rules (Part 137)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The agricultural airplane received substantial damage during a forced landing subsequent to an aerial application. The pilot initiated a climb to the nearest airport when he noticed instrument indications of low oil pressure. About five seconds later, the propeller went into feather and the engine stopped. The pilot stated that he had never landed with a feathered propeller and when he attempted to land in a clearing, he floated across it and into trees at the far end. The examination revealed a separation through the oil jet flange consistent with high cycle fatigue that initiated at several locations along the flange surface. No tool marks were noted in the area. The oil jet flange material was consistent with the specified aluminum alloy.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,227 hours in all; 3,191 in this make and model; 246 in the last 90 days; 147 in the last 30 days; 14,150 as pilot in command; 179 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 25, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 10,000 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE33110511M (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 8Y5 Clarissa MN at 5:15 pm
- Destination: SAZ Staples MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 5:35 pm from SAZ, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.