Rockwell S2R accident near Park Rapids, Minnesota, July 30, 2006
On July 30, 2006 at about 12:30 pm local time, a Rockwell S2R, registered N7982V, was substantially damaged in an accident near Park Rapids, Minnesota. 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 loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the inadequate airspeed during the forced landing which resulted in a stall/mush. A factor was the low altitude at which the airplane was being operated.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 30, 2006 · about 12:30 pm local time
- Place
- Park Rapids, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rockwell S2R
- Registration
- N7982V · no longer on the register · serial 2329R
- 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 the terrain and nosed down, following a loss of engine power during an aerial application flight. The pilot reported he made two swath runs over the field he was spraying. He stated that during the turn at the end of the second pass, the engine started to lose power. The pilot reported that he made a turn to the right to avoid a farm and checked the magnetos to no avail. He stated that he made another turn to avoid another farm and trees along the flight path. The pilot reported that he decided to land in a pasture and that turbulence was encountered when the airplane descended below the tree level. He reported that the airplane impacted the ground due to the loss of the headwind. The airplane contacted the terrain on the main gear, nosed down, and spun around 180 degrees before coming to rest. The reason for the loss of engine power was undetermined.
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, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,500 hours in all; 1,400 in this make and model; 220 in the last 90 days; 75 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command; 1,200 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Pratt & Whitney R1340 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PKD Park Rapids MN at 12:20 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.65 inHg
- Observation at 7:34 am from DTL
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.