Ayres S-2R accident near Eudora, Arkansas, August 24, 2003
On August 24, 2003 at about 2:50 pm local time, a Ayres S-2R, registered N5671X, was substantially damaged in an accident near Eudora, Arkansas. 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
A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Factors associated with the accident were the trees and the ditch which the airplane contacted during the forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 24, 2003 · about 2:50 pm local time
- Place
- Eudora, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S-2R
- Registration
- N5671X · registry record · serial 2406R
- 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 airplane impacted small trees and a ditch during a forced landing following a reported loss of engine power. The pilot reported he departed for the aerial application flight with full fuel, 100 gallons usable. He completed the aerial application 1 hour and 30 minutes later and began to return to his departure airstrip. He stated he pulled the power back to 28 inches of manifold pressure to cool the engine prior to landing. Approximately one minute later the manifold pressure "abruptly" fell and the engine lost power. The pilot stated he used the emergency fuel pump which resulted in a rise in fuel pressure, but the engine failed to restart. He stated he verified the position of the magnetos, fuel, mixture, air and propeller controls. The pilot elected to land straight ahead in a freshly planted pine orchard. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed one inch of fuel was present in the left fuel tank and the right fuel tank was empty. There was no evidence of fuel leakage from either fuel tank. Thirteen gallons of fuel were drained from the airplane after the accident.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,296 hours in all; 1,330 in this make and model; 150 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 4,226 as pilot in command; 166 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 18, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 14,266 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 4, 2003; 148 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney 1340AN1 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Eudora AR at 1:10 pm
- Destination: Eudora AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N5671X the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.