Aero Commander S2R accident near Walnut, Illinois, July 14, 2005
On July 14, 2005 at about 7:30 pm local time, a Aero Commander S2R, registered N8962Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Walnut, Illinois (Woodley Airstrip airport). 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
Fuel exhaustion due to the pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision. A contributing factor was the corn field.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 14, 2005 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Walnut, Illinois · Woodley Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aero Commander S2R · all S2Rs on the register
- Registration
- N8962Q · no longer on the register · serial 1632R
- 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 was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during the agricultural application flight. The pilot reported that after takeoff he "sprayed" a field about 25 miles east of the departure airstrip. He stated that while returning to the airstrip, he experienced "fuel exhaustion four miles east of [the] runway" at 600 feet above ground level. He noted that he turned toward the north into the prevailing winds and executed a forced landing into a corn field. The pilot stated that there were no malfunctions associated with the airplane prior to 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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,665 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 102 in the last 90 days; 1,665 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2005
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 8,034 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005; 40 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340-AN2 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Walnut IL at 6:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 9 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 93°F (34°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from SQI, 10 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.
Other NTSB records under N8962Q 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.