Ayres S2R-G10 accident near Davenport, North Dakota, August 29, 2005
On August 29, 2005 at about 8:30 pm local time, a Ayres S2R-G10, registered N3024U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Davenport, North Dakota. 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 pilot failed to gain suffient altitude during takeoff in order to clear the corn crop at the end of the runway. A factor associated with the accident was the corn crop.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 29, 2005 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Davenport, North Dakota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ayres S2R-G10
- Registration
- N3024U · registry record · serial G10-108
- 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 collided with a corn crop on takeoff. The pilot reported he was taking off to the northeast with a full chemical load when the accident occurred. He stated that the airplane became airborne when he was approximately halfway down the 2,640 foot long grass airstrip, but it didn't accelerate. He stated he "eased back on the stick but nothing happened." He stated he then pulled back on the stick in an attempt to clear the corn field at the end of the airstrip, but the airplane did not climb. The airplane collided with the eight to nine foot tall corn crop. Inspection of the airplane failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have prevented the airplane from gaining altitude.
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: 6,308 hours in all; 3,447 in this make and model; 203 in the last 90 days; 100 in the last 30 days; 6,246 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,472 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 2005
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Garrett TPE331 (turboprop); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PVT Davenport ND at 8:30 pm
- Destination: PVT
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from FAR
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 N3024U 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.